Departmental Agencies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2014

Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Ceisteanna (181)

Seán Kyne

Ceist:

181. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form all of the State agencies, bodies, organisations and working groups under her Department's remit, the core duties and functions of same, the number of staff at same, the budget of each for 2013 and proposed budget for 2014, the date of establishment of the agencies or organisations and the legislation, primary or otherwise, from which they derive their powers. [37211/14]

Freagraí ó Béal (1 píosaí cainte)

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I am aware that the Deputy has clarified that his question relates to the statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection. These bodies are the Pensions Authority, the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman, the Citizens Information Board, and the Social Welfare Tribunal. Details requested by the Deputy in relation to these bodies are outlined in the following table.

Statutory Bodies

Statutory Body	Core Duties and Functions	Number of Staff Serving	Budget Allocation 2013	Budget Allocation 2014	Date of establishment of the Body	Legislation primary or otherwise from which they derive their powers
The Pensions Authority	The Pensions Authority (formerly known as the Pensions Board) The main functions of the Authority are: To monitor and supervise the operation of the Pensions Act and pension developments generally; To issue guidelines on the duties and responsibilities of pension scheme trustees and Codes of Practice on specific aspects of their responsibility; To encourage the provision of appropriate training for trustees; To advise the Minister on standards for trustees; To investigate complaints concerning possible non-compliance with the pensions legislation and to resolve disputes that may arise in relation to some aspects of the legislation and; To advise the Minister for Social Protection on pensions matters generally	47	The operations of the Pensions Authority are financed by annual fees payable to it by occupational pension schemes and by providers of Personal Retirement Savings Accounts.	N/A	Pensions Board 1990 Pensions Authority 7 March 2014	The Pensions Acts 1990 to 2014
The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman	The Pensions Ombudsman investigates and decides complaints and disputes from individuals about their occupational pension schemes, Personal Retirement Savings Accounts (PRSAs) and Trust RACs.	6 Established 2 Contracted	€1,005,000	€1,080,000	28 April 2003	The Pensions Acts 1990 to 2014
The Citizens Information Board (CIB)	The CIB is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services to citizens on a wide range of public and social services.	73.4 whole time equivalents (wte’s) as at 31/8/2014	€47.45 million	€ 46 million	Commencement order of the Comhairle Act signed in March 2000. Comhairle was re-named the Citizens Information Board under the Citizens Information Act 2007.	The Citizens Information Acts 2000 to 2011
Social Welfare Tribunal	The Social Welfare Tribunal is a statutory body set up to deal with cases where entitlement to Jobseekers Benefit or Allowance is refused due to an involvement in a trade dispute.	5 Board members	€2,000	€1,000	1982	Chapter 5 of Part 10 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005