Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 21 February 2019

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach

Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)

Photo of Michael McGrathMichael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will revert to the committee on the overall picture of current and capital expenditure. I had suggested this year and next year. If the Minister could also report on what has been spent in 2017 and 2018, that would be very helpful. With regard to resources, the Minister spoke about the Tax Appeals Commission. He has provided it with significant extra resources. I know he has a report with a series of recommendations. Does he believe that those recommendations, if implemented, will deal with the unacceptable backlog? It is taking many years for individual cases to be dealt with, which is not acceptable. The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman has a significant backlog. It is taking between 12 and 18 months to deal with cases that go for full adjudication and investigation. I understand that that office has made a request for sanction for some additional resources, which do not require Exchequer expenditure because it is funded by a levy on the industry. Sanction is required nonetheless. Will the Minister look at that issue?

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