Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will list the number of public bodies under her auspices in which members of the board, employees, staff and other persons are required to complete forms under the ethics in public office rules, framework, regulations; and the number of persons required to complete these forms in respect of each public body under her Department and including her Department. [2070/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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1I would like to inform the Deputy that the position in respect of public bodies under the auspices of my Department is that there are four agencies funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Family Support Agency, the National Educational Welfare Board and the Ombudsman for Children. The Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 apply in respect of the Board members and certain designated staff of each agency.

In relation to the National Educational Welfare Board, 18 Board members (who were Board members at some stage in 2011) and 16 employees (who were designated employees at some stage in 2011) were subject to reporting obligations under the Acts.

The Ombudsman for Children's Office is an independent statutory body established under the Ombudsman for Children Act, 2002 and has two designated people covered by the provisions of the Acts namely the Ombudsman for Children and the Director of Investigations (Principal Officer).

9 Family Support Agency Board members and 6 members of staff at Assistant Principal or higher level were required to make returns under the Acts for 2011.

The Board of the Adoption Authority of Ireland consists of 7 members and there are currently two vacancies, therefore 5 members are required to make returns under the Acts.

With regard to staff in my own Department, all positions at Principal Officer level and above are required to complete returns under the Acts. In addition, certain staff at Assistant Principal Officer and Higher Executive Officer level working in Human Resources, Finance and Corporate Support functions and those with authority to enter into contracts and/or with authority to purchase are also covered by the Acts. In total there are 31 staff in my Department who must comply with the legislation and make the necessary returns.