Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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438. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on recent reports of rising rates of uninvestigated corporate fraud and white-collar crime; her plans to increase the resources and-or funding available to the Data Protection Commissioner and the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24455/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am of course aware of the recent reports about the conduct of white collar crime investigations and have received a report from the Garda Commissioner on the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation's functions, which I will be discussing with her in the near future.

While the detailed allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, I am concerned to ensure that there are effective arrangements in place to investigate complex crime of this nature. I therefore welcome the comprehensive review and strategic realignment announced by the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána's capacity to deal with emerging and complex crime and my Department will remain in contact with An Garda Síochána about this matter, including in the context of the specific issues raised in recent reports referred to by the Deputy.

With regard to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, whose resources come under the aegis of my Department, it should be noted that in 2013 there was a 20% increase in the budget for the Office (compared with 2012), and also that additional staffing resources were put in place including such specialist staff as a Chief Technology Advisor and a Legal Advisor. I am committed to ensuring that the Office has the necessary resources to perform its functions and I can assure the Deputy this matter is under active review at present.