Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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535. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the budget assigned to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission in each of the years 2015 to 2017; the budget to be assigned for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54935/17]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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536. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff assigned to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission in each of the years 2015 to 2017; the projected number of staff for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54936/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 536 together.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has a hugely important role in ensuring that public confidence in the Garda Síochána is safeguarded, and has extensive powers under the 2005 Act to enable it to carry out its responsibilities.

The assigned annual budgets for GSOC since 2015 is as follows.

As the end of 2015 and 2016 there was a staffing complement of 77, not including the Commissioners. At the end of 2017, the staffing complement was 84 staff working alongside the Commissioners. GSOC project that the number of staff for 2018 will be 94, again excluding Commissioners.

I can assure the Deputy that resources and funding are kept under continuing review to ensure that GSOC is enabled to continue to operate effectively and efficiently and in accordance with its statutory remit.

In May 2017 sanction was given for an additional 5 staff to create a dedicated unit in GSOC to deal with Protected Disclosures.  A recruitment competition for positions in this Unit has been recently completed by PAS.

I met with GSOC last September and the issue of resources was discussed. GSOC undertook to provide briefing to the Department on what it estimates are its staffing requirements to meet all contingencies and this will be considered once it is received.