Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide figures regarding funding for the National Consumer Agency in 2012; if he will outline the biggest single cost to the agency in the past 12 months; if same is current or capital expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45871/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Funding to support the non-financial education activities of the National Consumer Agency is provided from my Department's Vote. Funding in respect of the consumer education and information functions, which the Agency assumed from the Financial Regulator on the enactment of the Central Bank Reform Act 2010, is provided from a levy imposed by the Agency on regulated financial entities.

Funding allocated to the Agency from my Department's Vote in 2012 mounted to €5,716,000. The Agency has estimated that it will receive further funding in the amount to €3,310,176 from the aforementioned levy on regulated financial entities in 2012. The determination of funding for the Agency in 2013 is a matter for consideration as part of the budgetary process. The biggest cost to the Agency in the last 12 months has been pay. The Agency does not have a capital budget.

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide details regarding the number of staff employed by the National Consumer Agency broken down as permanent, temporary and contract; the number of staff employed directly by the NCA on new contracts by permanent, temporary or contract basis, within the past two years; and if he will provide details of the total salary bill at the NCA excluding pension provisions. [45872/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There are currently 58 staff assigned to work with the National Consumer Agency. Six of these are permanent staff members of the Agency, the remainder are on secondment from the civil service and the public sector. One permanent member of staff was employed directly by the Agency as part of the redeployment process within the last 2 years. The total salary bill (excluding pension provisions) for the Agency in 2011 was €3.8m when the number of staff assigned to the Agency at the end of that year was 63.

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the proposed merger between the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45874/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Consumer and Competition Bill which will, inter alia , provide for the merger of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority is contained in Section A of the Government’s legislative programme. I hope to publish the Bill by mid-January 2013.