Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2012
173. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Finance the number of new staff that have been recruited by the Revenue Commissioners in each year since 2007; the grade of same; his plans to recruit any new staff in each year to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44275/12]
View answerThe Revenue Commissioners have provided me with the following information in response to the Deputy’s question. Details of staff who were recruited by the Revenue Commissioners from open competitions since 2007 are provided in the following table:
|
Grade |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
To End Q3 2012 |
|
Secretary General Level (Commissioners)* |
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary* |
4 |
3 |
|
|
3 |
2 |
|
Principal |
|
4 |
|
4 |
1 |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal |
3 |
6 |
|
22 |
|
1 |
|
Solicitor |
1 |
2 |
|
2 |
|
2 |
|
Statistician |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Economist |
1 |
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
Administrative Officer |
14 |
14 |
4 |
25 |
|
8 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
6 |
18 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
Executive Officer |
45 |
59 |
17 |
|
|
|
|
Staff Officer |
7 |
7 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Clerical Officer |
256 |
130 |
|
12 |
|
1 |
|
Service Officer |
9 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
Totals |
346 |
253 |
26 |
70 |
5 |
16 |
* Following a Top Level Appointments Committee competition
A number of the staff recruited by open competition were existing Revenue staff.
The Office of the Revenue Commissioners undertakes regular workforce planning analyses to identify key posts and skills that require to be filled to enable the organisation to deliver on their current and developing strategies. The Revenue Commissioners are currently in discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on its immediate and medium term resource requirements based on its most recent workforce plan. While I recognise the challenge the Government faces in reducing public service numbers generally, the effective operation of the revenue collection system is critical to the successful achievement of the Government’s objectives in the context of the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland. I would, therefore, be generally supportive of the resource case made by Revenue.
To address skills gaps and deficits that are emerging, Revenue has recently completed open recruitment competitions in the areas of Audit & Investigation and Information Technology. Where critical vacancies cannot be filled from within existing resources, or through redeployment from within the public sector, Revenue will seek sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to fill vacancies by open recruitment. In the context of the need reduce public sector numbers and the probable availability of suitable staff from redeployment resource panels, it would not be possible to state exactly how many new staff Revenue will be in a position to recruit each year to 2016.
