46 OFMDFM complaints; £32.5k bill

FORTY-SIX grievance and whistle-blowing complaints against the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister and its arm’s-length bodies were dealt with over the past five years at a cost to the taxpayer of £32,500.

By Kevin Mullan

Published 30th Mar 2013, 09:32 BST

There were 41 grievance cases taken against OFMDFM subsidiaries between 2007 and 2012. There were three such whistle-blowing cases over the same period.

During the five years there were just two grievance cases taken against OFMDFM directly - in 2007/8 and in 2010/11.

Costs were incurred in 2009/10 dealing with seven grievance cases and one whistle-blowing complaint against OFMDFM arm’s-length bodies. The bill was £26k plus VAT.

In 2010/11 there were 13 grievance cases and two whistle-blowing cases against arm’s-length bodies at a cost of £6,500.

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) MLA Jim Allister asked the Ministers for details of whistle-blowing complaints against the Department and its arm’s-length bodies.