Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of operational sections in his Department in each year since 1997; the number of employees in each section since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29748/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I am responsible for the administration of the Department and a number of associated bodies and agencies which come within my Department's remit. There are currently over 20 offices, agencies and associated bodies under the aegis of my Department which carry out a range of diverse functions. These include head office, asylum services, the Data Protection Office, Garda civilians, Garda Complaints Board, Land Registry, probation and welfare service, the Equality Tribunal, the Forensic Science Laboratory and the Film Censor's office, to name but a few. The approved staffing for this wide range of areas is 3,723.

My Department is structured around ten main areas based around its key functions. These include law reform, Garda and crime, prisons and probation, the executive office of the Irish naturalisation and immigration service, INIS, equality, child care and business support. Each of the main areas comprises one or more divisions and is headed by a member of the management advisory committee. Details of the associated agencies and bodies are set out in table 1.

The overall staffing levels of the various divisions within the Department and associated bodies and agencies within the wider justice and equality sector is determined, within the authorised numbers sanctioned by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, in accordance with Government policy. The allocation of staffing within the approved numbers is a matter for the senior management of my Department and decisions are taken having regard to the Department's ongoing mandate and policy priorities as set down in the programme for Government and the Department's strategy statements.

In 1997, the approved staffing of the Department, for head office and the associated areas which I have outlined earlier, was in the region of 2,500. In the period 1997 to 2002 this number was increased to 3,841. In 2005, the figure is 3,723. It will not be possible to provide the Deputy with the annualised figures sought as the compilation of this information would involve a disproportionate amount of staff time and effort to prepare and could not be justified in circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources.

A key factor in the increase in staff within the Department between 1997-2002 relates to the expansion of the asylum area to deal with the massive increase in the numbers of people seeking asylum and refugee status in Ireland in the late 1990s and early 2000s. A number of agencies and associated bodies were also established in this period — see table 1. With effect from December 2002, public sector numbers were capped on foot of a Government decision and my Department operates within this authorised number of staff and allocates these staff in accordance with the Department's priorities.

My Department's main areas of responsibility cross many significant areas of public policy and administration. The organisation of the Department and the allocation of staffing across the Department and its agencies and associated bodies reflects the Department's key functions and objectives.