Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 381: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of quangos, agencies and authorities that were established by her Department in each of the years 1997 to January 2011; the number of staff employed by her Department in 1997; the number of staff employed by her Department in January 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22586/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Three statutory agencies have been established by the Minister for Social Protection since 1997 – Comhairle (now known as the Citizens Information Board), the Family Support Agency and the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman. Comhairle, which was established on 12 June 2000 under the provisions of the Comhairle Act 2000, replaced the former National Social Services Board. Under the provisions of the Citizens Information Act 2007, the title of this agency was changed from Comhairle to the Citizens Information Board on 21 February 2007. The Family Support Agency was established on 6 May 2003 under the provisions of the Family Support Agency Act 2001. Responsibility for this Agency has now transferred to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman was established on 2 September, 2003 under the provisions of Part XI of the Pensions Act 1990 (inserted by the Pensions (Amendment) Act 2002).

The number of staff employed by my Department in 1997 was 4,267. The number of staff employed in January 2011 was 5,032 – this figure includes 160 temporary staff. The requirement for an increase in the number of staff employed is mainly due to the increased number of people on the live register, as a result of the downturn in the economy.