Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of personnel, their grades and the budget of the new division responsible for addressing issues of poverty and exclusion. [4423/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's decision to integrate the Combat Poverty Agency and the Office for Social Inclusion within the Department of Social and Family Affairs was informed by a review of the Combat Poverty Agency undertaken on foot of a Government Decision on the 6th June 2007. The legislative provision to give effect to the Government's decision is contained in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2008. An implementation plan for the smooth integration of the two bodies is underway and it is envisaged that the new division will commence operations from 1st July.

The new division will provide a unified institutional structure to support government, officials and the wider community in addressing issues of poverty and social exclusion. It will play a central role in co-ordinating the ongoing development and implementation of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion in collaboration with the Senior Officials Group on Social Inclusion, government departments, local authorities and agencies. Key functions will include policy advice, research, data availability, communications, poverty impact assessment and the strengthening of social inclusion strategies.

In the meantime both organisations continue to operate separately, but are in the process of integrating their operations. There are currently 20 permanent staff employed in the Combat Poverty Agency (17.6 full time equivalent posts) in grades analogous to Civil Service grades as follows — 6 Assistant Principals, 8 Higher Executive Officers, 2 Executive Officers and 4 Clerical Officers. In addition, there are seven people on either fixed term or temporary contracts that are due to be completed in the coming months. The Department's 2009 Grant-in-Aid provision for the Combat Poverty Agency is €4.088m of which some €2.4m is attributable to the Board and staff costs and the administration costs. The remainder relates mainly to programme funding under headings that include projects, communications and research.

There are currently ten staff members working in the Office for Social Inclusion as follows; Director, Principal Officer, 2 Assistant Principals, 5 Higher Executive/Administrative Officers and 1 Clerical Officer. The costs associated with the Office mainly relate to staff costs and are accounted for as part of the overall administrative budget of the Department.

As part of the integration process, both bodies are drawing up integrated business plans for the year and a strategic plan for the new division for the next 3 years. These plans will determine the deployment of staff and the budget for the new division in the second half of this year and in future years. It is expected that the new arrangements will yield savings, especially in areas such as accommodation and efficiencies that can be gained through combined payroll and ancillary support services.