Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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145. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide information on the number of state agencies or organisations under the remit of her Department which are paid-up members of IBEC; the names of each agency or organisation; the amount which each agency or organisation paid to IBEC in the years 2011 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38730/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman and the Social Welfare Tribunal.

None of the bodies under the aegis of the Department are paid up members of IBEC.

Citizens Information Board (CIB)

In 2011, CIB made payments to IBEC amounting to €61,184 which included €31,414 in respect of two years (2011 and 2012) annual subscription for membership for one of its service delivery partner companies; Money Advice and Budgeting Service National Development Limited (MABS ndl). The remaining payments were in respect of support services provided, under contract, to CIB’s other service delivery partners –Citizens Advice Services, Citizens Information Phone Services and National Advocacy Services which amounted to €27,857, with the balance (€1,913) in respect of miscellaneous services.

In 2012, CIB made payments to IBEC amounting to €20,439. This comprised a figure of €14,092 in respect of the extension of contract for support services as detailed above, €3,667 in respect of a membership fee for CIB staff and €2,680 in respect of staff training.

No payments have been made by CIB to IBEC since 2012.

The Pensions Authority

The Authority did not pay any money to IBEC in 2011. In 2012, it paid €190 in respect of training. In 2013, it paid €5,806 (€3,100 for training and €2,706 in respect of an information stand at the annual Small Firms Association Annual Conference). In 2014, it paid €2,706 in respect of an information stand at the annual Small Firms Association Annual Conference.

The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman

The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman has not paid any amounts to IBEC in the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to-date in 2014.

Social Welfare Tribunal

Two members of the board of the Tribunal are members of IBEC. Legislation provides that two of the four ordinary member of the Tribunal are appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of IBEC.

No money was paid to IBEC in the years 2011, 2012, 2013 or 2014 for these members to sit on the Social Welfare Tribunal board. Members are paid expenses for hearings or meetings of the Tribunal.