Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
405. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the annual saving of €2 million arising from the new workplace relations bodies following the enactment of the Workplace Relations Bill 2014. [34397/14]
View answer406. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the current number of whole time equivalents working across the workplace relations bodies; and the number that will be employed in the two replacement bodies following enactment of the Workplace Relations Bill 2014. [34398/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 405 and 406 together.
In addition to enhancing the service provided to users, the reform of the Workplace Relations Bodies will reduce staff numbers and the associated costs of delivering the service.
At the end of 2010, before the beginning of the reform process, there were 249.06 whole time equivalents in the workplace relations bodies. The current staffing strength of the bodies is 218.64 whole time equivalents. While there will be further staff reductions due to the continuing reform programme, it is not possible to say at this stage what the final staffing complement of the new bodies will be.
It is expected that the savings achieved by the reform programme will amount to €2 million per annum, mainly due to staff reductions, reduced per diem costs and efficiencies achieved. The main drivers of the reduction in staff costs will be the centralisation of administration and case management services and the automation of business processes. There will also be savings in travel and subsistence costs due to the centralisation of hearings in regional locations and a reduction in room hire costs due to the provision of hearing facilities in Workplace Relations Commission regional offices where feasible. Further savings will arise from the implementation of the new Customer Relationship Management System which is currently being developed.
The Employment Appeals Tribunal will continue in existence for a period after the establishment of the new bodies to finalise its outstanding cases and the final savings arising from the reform programme will not accrue until it has been dissolved. The 2014 allocation for the EAT is €3.5m and allowing for the cost of an additional Division in the Labour Court, the dissolution of the EAT will contribute very significantly to the overall €2m saving projected.
