Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied that adequate resources are being provided to the Ombudsman and the Standards in Public Office to allow each office to fully carry out their duties; if he will detail their respective budgets for 2013 and the way each compares with the past ten years; if his attention has been drawn to any difficulties that may have arisen since March 2011 in relation to the performance of duties in each office as a result of funding constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11523/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am satisfied that adequate resources are being provided to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Standards in Public Office Commission, to fully carry out their duties. The Office of the Ombudsman and the Standards in Public Office Commission are independent bodies. I am not aware of any difficulties arising in these organisations as a result of funding constraints and the organisations have undertaken their duties fully in accordance with Government budgetary policy in regard to, for example, public service pay and numbers. Information on their performances of their respective duties are published in their respective annual reports.

The budgets for the organisations for 2013 and the respective estimates and expenditure over the previous ten years are as follows:

Appropriation Account Data

* Budget Estimate Figures - Increase is as a result of amalgamation with the Commission on Public Service Standards

** Office of the Information Commissioner/Office of the Commissioner Environmental Information

Revised Estimates Data ***

*** Taken from Revised Estimates Volume Publications