Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider designating the Arts Council as a body whose decisions are reviewable by the Office of the Ombudsman in the interests of good governance and transparency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12772/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008 completed all stages in the Dáil in June 2010 and is awaiting second stage in the Seanad. This Bill represents the most significant extension of the Ombudsman's remit in almost 30 years. On completion of its passage in the Dáil the main areas included in the Bill are third level education institutions, the Vocational Educational Colleges and the Courts Service.

The priority in terms of extending the Ombudsman's remit has been to identify public bodies currently outside her remit that have a significant interface with members of the public whose administrative actions have the potential to affect large numbers of people. The extension of the Ombudsman's remit to cover additional bodies or additional areas of work, beyond those already covered by the Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008, will be reviewed in line with the Government Reform Agenda over the coming months. Bodies to be included or exempt will be agreed in the context of this review.