Written answers

Tuesday, 26 March 2019

Department of Finance

Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Administration

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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176. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman is sufficiently resourced to handle the complaints it receives in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14486/19]

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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237. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman is sufficiently resourced and staffed to deal with the volume of applications it receives, in view of the fact that some clients are waiting months or even years for their complaints to be heard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14025/19]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 237 together.

Under section 15(4) of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017 the Ombudsman may appoint staff to his office and determine their duties with the approval of the Minister for Finance and the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) commissioned a Workforce Plan 2019-2023 and submitted the Plan to my Department. This plan includes an analysis of the level of resources currently available to the FSPO against both current and predicted future demand for his services.

My officials in the Department of Finance have just concluded their consideration of the best way to ensure that the Ombudsman has the appropriate resources to deal with the workload of his Office following consultations with officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of the Ombudsman. In light of this, I have approved a substantial increase in staff in the FSPO which I expect to assist the FSPO in fulfilling its remit to independently resolve complaints against financial services and pensions providers.

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