Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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123. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of staff employed at the Financial Services Ombudsman; the vacancies there are; the qualifications of the staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14496/17]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Financial Service Ombudsman's Bureau (FSO) publishes staffing levels and details in its annual report.  It also provides details of its current staffing arrangements on its website.  I understand that there were 34 staff employed in the Financial Service Ombudsman Bureau at the end of 2016. This was broken down as follows:

- Ombudsman/Deputy Ombudsman2

- PA to Ombudsman 1

- Senior management group  3

- Adjudication & Legal Services5

- Corporate & Information Services8

- Dispute Resolution Services15

There were four vacancies which have since been filled through an open competition.

The qualifications of FSO staff reflect the above organisational structure as well as the wider system within which the FSO operates.  Qualifications held by FSO employees include legal and compliance qualifications, mediation accreditation, corporate governance, financial services qualifications and general management.