Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2014
29. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to expand the remit of the Office of the Ombudsman in line with comments recently made by the newly appointed Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2673/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contained a commitment to extend the Ombudsman Act, to ensure that all statutory bodies, and all bodies significantly funded from the public purse, are covered. The Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012 extended the remit of the Ombudsman bringing some 180 public bodies within remit. As such, it was the most significant extension of the Ombudsman's remit in 30 years. The Ombudsman is now empowered to investigate complaints about the administrative functions of bodies such as the Education and Training Boards, the higher education institutions and a range of other bodies whose administrative actions had not previously been subject to investigation. This should in turn ensure a better quality service to customer or clients of public bodies by improving the system of public administration.
I fully intend to further extend the remit of the Ombudsman by bringing in bodies significantly funded from the Exchequer in line with the views expressed by the Ombudsman. Governing criteria will be agreed by my officials with relevant line Departments for determining which bodies funded by the Exchequer would be appropriate for bringing under the Ombudsman's remit as a priority. I have asked my officials to continue to progress this work, in consultation with the Office of the Ombudsman, to ensure the further extension of the Ombudsman's remit to significantly funded non-statutory bodies consistent with the objective in this area contained in the Programme for Government.
