Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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549. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will list the cost of each Ombudsman under his remit in the years from 2000 to 2012, within the on-going economic difficulties which challenge us all to work differently. [26443/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The only Ombudsman post under the remit of the Department for Defence is that of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. The office of Ombudsman for the Defence Forces, ODF, was established as an independent statutory office, under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. The primary role of the ODF is to provide an independent appeals process for members of the Defence Forces who have processed a complaint through the internal Defence Forces redress of wrongs process but remain dissatisfied with the outcome or the manner in which the complaint was handled. The 2004 Act also provides that, subject to certain conditions, the Ombudsman may accept complaints directly from former members of the Defence Forces. The operational functions of the ODF, as provided for under the 2004 Act, commenced with effect from 1 December 2005.

In the period from 1 December 2005 until mid September 2012 the role of Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was filled on a full time basis. However, a reduction in the number of cases being referred to the ODF was noted in recent years and, as a consequence, when the post became vacant in 2012 the new Ombudsman was appointed on a part time, three day week basis, subject to ongoing review of caseload and referrals. This resulted in savings on the pay element of the ODF budget in 2012, savings which will be ongoing in 2013 and future years.