Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether the Paymaster General's office, which provides a banking service to all Departments and Government offices and is assigned to him under the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924, would be better served as an independent service under the Constitution, as in the case of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, rather than under the political control of the Minister for Finance in office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5557/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Paymaster General's Office, which is part of my Department, has two operational units. One of the units provides a banking service to Departments and Offices. It is not involved in policy matters. Due to automation of processes and the decline in the number of paper payments (payable orders) from 4.2 million in 2001 to 295,000 in 2011, it has been possible to reduce the number of staff in the unit, from a headcount of 18 in 2004 to 4 full time staff today.

Under the Public Service Reform Plan, which was published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, it is intended during 2012 to develop a strategic business case, in consultation with key impacted Department representatives, for a shared banking service to be used by all Government Departments/Offices and their Agencies in due course. In the circumstances, I do not consider it warranted, or appropriate, to put the Paymaster General's Office on a Constitutional footing, which would require a referendum with attendant costs.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that the important function of the Paymaster General's office is the provision of end-of-month financial reports to departmental offices, to facilitate reconciliation of their accounts; if the offices are in any way accountable for the spending of Departments and the monitoring of their solvency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5558/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that an important function of the Office of the Paymaster General is the provision of online reporting facilities, which enable Departments and Offices to generate reports to assist them with the reconciliation of their accounts. The appointed Accounting Officer of each Department or Office is accountable for the spending of the Department/Office and, in that regard, is required to have adequate systems of internal financial controls.

In managing their spending, Departments/Offices are subject to the upper limits, known as "Estimates for Supply Services" voted by Dáil Éireann each year, the requirement for the sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the requirements set out in "Public Financial Procedures". Departments/Offices are also monitored on an ongoing basis by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons who have been granted the position of Paymaster General since 2002; the salary paid in each case; the number who have retired; the retirement gratuity and pension payable in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5559/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Under the Schedule (first part) of the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924, the Office of the Paymaster General and Deputy Paymaster for Ireland was assigned to the Department of Finance. As such the position is vested in the Minister for Finance and no additional remuneration or pension entitlement arises. The Office of the Paymaster General has two operational arms: one provides a banking service to Departments and Offices while the other pays pensions on an agency basis to retired civil servants, office holders and VEC staff. The Office is under the day to day management of a Principal in my Department who also has other responsibilities.