Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As far as the provision of Government resources is concerned, an allocation of €1 million was made from the justice Vote for 2016 to provide support for the new authority. That allocation is in the course of being drawn down. A similar amount has been set aside this year in the justice Vote and any funding advanced from the allocation will strictly be on a recuperable basis. The Deputy will be pleased to learn that the authority is working on several projects that will assist in identifying the staffing needs and resources required to allow it to support the ongoing roll-out of its functions to a structured and achievable timetable. I had the opportunity shortly after my appointment as Minister to meet the chairperson. I will be meeting the chairperson and members of the authority again before the middle of November to further discuss the authority's medium to long-term plans. I have written to the authority to emphasise the importance I attach, as Minister for Justice and Equality, to the objective of getting it to open for business, in terms of the public complaints function, as quickly as possible, while also bearing in mind the risks and complexities which must be carefully managed in order to bring this about.

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