Vol. 571 No. 3
276 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the number of staff employed by his Department; the bodies within its aegis which are covered by the benchmarking agreement; the projected costs in 2004 of paying this award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21652/03]
The whole time equivalent number of staff employed by my Department stood at 2,623.21 at end-July 2003. The following bodies are wholly staffed by employees of my Department and consequently are covered by the benchmarking agreement: Comhar; Designated Area Appeals Advisory Board; Fire Services Council; Private Residential Tenancies Board; and the Rent Tribunal.
Public servants employed by the following bodies under the aegis of my Department are also covered by the benchmarking agreement: An Bord Pleanála; An Chomhairle Leabharlanna; Dublin Docklands Development Authority; Environmental Protection Agency; Heritage Council Housing Finance Agency; Irish Water Safety Association; Local Government Computer Services Board; Local Government Management Services Board; National Building Agency; and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland.
The following bodies under the aegis of my Department do not directly employ public servants and, as such, the question of benchmarking payments do not arise: Building Regulations Advisory Body and Temple Bar Renewal Limited. It will be possible to provide a firm estimate of the costs of benchmarking for my Department only when the estimates process has been completed and agreement on benchmarking for staff employed in the industrial grades in the civil service has been concluded.
