Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of complaints that are pending review by the Financial Services Ombudsman; the average waiting time for these cases; and his views on whether the Ombudsman has sufficient resources. [12472/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Financial Services Ombudsman that from January 2010 to date the Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau has received over 10,000 complaints from individuals against financial service providers. In that period, 3,455 findings were issued and a further 6,107 cases were closed or settled. Currently 1,317 cases are with the investigation team and a further 1,158 cases are awaiting to be assigned to an investigator. The average waiting time for a finding to be issued once it has been decided to investigate a case is 9 months.

My officials are currently in discussions with the Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau regarding resources. I should point out that the Financial Services Ombudsman is independent in the carrying out of his duties and that there is no role for me in the day to day workings of the office.