Written answers

Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Departmental Agencies

Photo of Seán KyneSeán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

224. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form all of the State agencies, bodies, organisations and working groups under his Department's remit; the core duties and functions of same; the number of staff at same; the budget of each for 2013 and proposed budget for 2014; the date of establishment of the agencies or organisations; and the legislation, primary or otherwise, from which they derive their powers. [37210/14]

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In response to the Deputy's question the following is a list of the State agencies, bodies, organisations and working groups under my Department's remit; the core duties and functions of same; the number of staff at same; the budget of each for 2013 and proposed budget for 2014; the date of establishment of the agencies or organisations; and the legislation, primary or otherwise, from which they derive their powers.

The material in respect of the Office of Public Works will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.

Institute of Public Administration 

Core Duties and FunctionsNumber of StaffBudget 2013Proposed Budget 2014Date of EstablishmentLegislation
Promote the study and improve the standard of public administration8010,600,00010,300,0001957Companies Acts


Valuation Tribunal
Core Duties and FunctionsNumber of StaffBudget 2013Proposed Budget 2014Date of EstablishmentLegislation
Provision of administration services to facilitate the efficient and effective operation of the Valuation Tribunal 5693,000850,0001988Valuation Act, 2001


State Laboratory
Core Duties and FunctionsNumber of StaffBudget 2013Proposed Budget 2014Date of EstablishmentLegislation
The State Laboratory provides a comprehensive analytical and advisory service to Government departments and offices, thereby enabling them to implement and formulate the technical aspects of national and EU legislation. 877,545,0007,795,00001-Apr-1924The State Laboratory is a scheduled office under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform


Public Appointments Service (PAS)
Core Duties and FunctionsNumber of StaffBudget 2013Proposed Budget 2014Date of EstablishmentLegislation
PAS provides a shared service in recruitment, selection and assessment to organisations across the Civil and Public Service. PAS conducts recruitment campaigns on behalf of a wide variety of organisations including, Civil Service Departments/ Offices, An Garda Siochána, local government sector, HSE, Irish Prison Service. 88.65 FTE€6.014m



(Net Expenditure)
€6.757mOctober 2004 (replaced the Office of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners)Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004


Office of the Ombudsman
Core Duties and FunctionsNumber of StaffBudget 2013Proposed Budget 2014Date of EstablishmentLegislation
The Ombudsman's role is to investigate complaints about administrative actions, delays or inaction adversely affecting persons or bodies in their dealings with public bodies (including government departments, local authorities, the Health Service Executive (HSE), public voluntary hospitals and other institutions providing services on behalf of HSE, third level bodies, and sectors and bodies to which the Disability Act (2005) applies). 67*5,200,0005,141,000December 1983Ombudsman Acts (1980 & 2012)
* No of staff assigned to the Office of the Ombudsman includes shared services staff (HR, IT, Finance & Communications) who provide services for all of the above Offices.

Office of the Information Commissioner / Commissioner for Environmental Information
Core Duties and FunctionsNumber of StaffBudget 2013Proposed Budget 2014Date of EstablishmentLegislation
The role of the Commissioner is to review (on application) decisions made in relation to FOI requests and to make binding new decisions; to keep the operation of the Act under review with a view to ensuring maximum compliance among public bodies; to encourage the voluntary publication by public bodies of information on their activities; and to prepare and publish commentaries on the practical operation of the Act.







The role of the Commissioner for Environmental Information is to review (on appeal) decisions made in relation to requests made to public authorities for environmental information under the Regulations and Directive 2003/4/EC.
211,665,0001,682,000.00April 1998





































May 2007











Freedom of Information Acts (1997 & 2003)



































Access to Environmental Information Regulations (2007 to 2011) 


Commission for Public Service Appointments**
Core Duties and FunctionsNumber of StaffBudget 2013Proposed Budget 2014Date of EstablishmentLegislation
The Commission s role is to establish standards of probity, merit, equity and fairness for the recruitment and selection of appointees to (i) all established and most unestablished positions in the Civil Service; (ii) positions in An Garda Síochána subject to the remit of the Act; (iii) the Health Service Executive; (iv) the Health Information and Quality Authority; and (v) certain managerial, professional and technical positions in local authorities and vocational education committees to which the Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Act (1926) applies. 3October 2004Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act (2004)
** The budget for the Commission for Public Service Appointments merged with Office of the Ombudsman from 1 January 2013.

The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)
Core Duties and FunctionsNumber of StaffBudget 2013Proposed Budget 2014Date of EstablishmentLegislation
The SEUPB s main role is to manage cross-border European Union Structural Funds Programmes in Northern Ireland, the border region of Ireland and parts of Western Scotland (PEACE and INTERREG Programmes) 57 Total Budget:



€119,264,000***







Admin Budget:



€2,501,000
Total Budget:



€120,363,000***







Admin Budget:



€2,290,000
March 1999The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)
***This includes Programme expenditure for PEACE and INTERREG which is provided by a number of Government Departments in Ireland and Northern Ireland and is subject to subsequent refunds from the EU Commission of up to 75%.  The Administration expenditure of the Body is co-funded by the Department of Public Expenditure and the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland. 

Standards in Public Office Commission
Core Duties and FunctionsNumber of StaffBudget 2013Proposed Budget 2014Date of EstablishmentLegislation
The Standards in Public Offices Commission is an independent body established in December 2001 by the Standards in Public Office Act, 2001. It has a supervisory role under the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001; the Electoral Act 1997, as amended; the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act 2001; the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012; and the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices)(Amendment) Act 2001. Further information is available on the Commission's website at . It is proposed that the Commission will also have a supervisory role under the forthcoming Registration of Lobbying Act. Further information in relation to the Registration of Lobbying Act can be found on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform website at . The Commission also serves as secretariat to the Referendum Commission, as required.11980,0001,317,000December 2001Standards in Public Office Act (2001), Ethics in Public Office Acts (1995 & 2001), Electoral Act (1997), Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Act (2012), Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices)(Amendment) Act (2001) and the forthcoming Registration of Lobbying Bill (2014).


Valuation Office
Core Duties and FunctionsNumber of StaffBudget 2013Proposed Budget 2014Date of EstablishmentLegislation
The production and maintenance of fair and equitable valuation lists of commercial and industrial properties1229,828,0009,345,000Circa 1850Valuation Act 2001















Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.