Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 January 2009
156 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Finance the number of economists employed in his Department at present and their roles; the number of economists employed in his Department each year since 1997 and their roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2667/09]
View answerAs I indicated in a reply to Deputy Joan Burton on 17th December 2008 (No. 199), there are currently 614 people (wholetime equivalents) employed in my Department. More than 80 individual officers have qualifications in economics at various levels. 57 officers hold degrees in Economics and related disciplines, 44 hold a Masters qualification in Economics and related disciplines, and 2 officers hold a PhD. Some officers will, of course, be included in more than 1 of these categories.
In the time allowed, it would not be possible to ascertain what the equivalent numbers would have been in each of the years since 1997. However, my Department has a long-standing policy of recruiting economists. Individuals with skills and qualifications in economics are employed at almost all levels of the Department. Indeed, I would point out that, of the last 7 appointments at Assistant Secretary level in the Department, 5 had Masters qualifications in economics or related disciplines, while 2 had primary degrees in economics or related disciplines.
