I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that in the period 1 January 2010 to 13 April 2012, 26 Principal Officers and 61 Assistant Principal Officers were appointed by the Revenue Commissioners. The following Tables 1 and 2 give an indication of the Divisions to which the initial appointments were made and the number of internal or external appointees:
Table 1: Principal Officers Appointed by the Revenue Commissioners 1 January 2010 to 13 April 2012.
|
Division
|
Total
|
Internal
|
External
|
|
Border Midlands and West
|
4
|
4
|
—
|
|
Corporate Affairs and Customs
|
1
|
1
|
—
|
|
Corporate Services
|
2
|
1
|
1*
|
|
Dublin Region
|
3
|
3
|
—
|
|
East and South East Region
|
2
|
2
|
—
|
|
Information and Communications Technology
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
|
Investigations and Prosecutions
|
1
|
1
|
—
|
|
Large Cases
|
5
|
1
|
4
|
|
Planning
|
1
|
1
|
—
|
|
Revenue Legislation Services
|
2
|
2
|
—
|
|
South West Region
|
3
|
3
|
—
|
|
27
|
21
|
6
|
Table 2: Assistant Principal Officers Appointed by the Revenue Commissioners 1 January 2010 to 13 April 2012.
|
Division
|
Total
|
Internal
|
External
|
|
Border Midlands and West
|
9
|
4
|
5
|
|
Corporate Affairs and Customs
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
|
Collector General’s
|
5
|
3
|
2*
|
|
Corporate Services
|
1
|
1
|
—
|
|
Dublin Region
|
8
|
5
|
3
|
|
East and South East Region
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
|
Information and Communications Technology
|
3
|
3
|
—
|
|
Investigations and Prosecutions
|
4
|
1
|
3
|
|
Large Cases
|
10
|
4
|
6
|
|
Planning
|
4
|
4
|
—
|
|
Revenue Legislation Services
|
6
|
5
|
1
|
|
South West Region
|
6
|
5
|
1
|
|
61
|
37
|
24
|
*Two external appointments were by redeployment from elsewhere in the public sector. The balance were by way of open recruitment competitions.
These appointments were made to replace the loss of key skills and experience in Revenue at a time of significant staffing reductions. Since January 2009, Revenue staffing numbers have reduced by 850 staff (-13%). Despite the appointments set out in Tables 1 and 2, since January 2009 the numbers serving have reduced at Principal level by 38 (26%) and at Assistant Principal level by 120 (2%).
External open recruitment has been an important source for the replacement of critical skills and experience in Revenue and I know that the Commissioners are keen to carry out further open recruitment at these levels. However, the Employment Control Framework process to which Revenue is subject in line with Government policy to reduce public service numbers severely restricts the extent to which Revenue can add additional headcount by way of open recruitment.
However, I recognise the need to replace the loss of key skills and experience in Revenue while meeting the existing Employment Control Framework allocations. I have asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to consider reducing Revenue's target staff numbers over a longer period of time, whilst at the same time allowing Revenue some scope to replace critical skills and experience. This request is under consideration and, in the meantime, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has sanctioned the replacement of some critical posts in Revenue, including at Principal and Assistant Principal Officer level included in the above tables.
