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Food Safety Authority of Ireland

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 March 2018

Wednesday, 21 March 2018

Questions (235)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

235. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of requests for additional funding, staff resources or expertise that have been made by Food Safety Authority of Ireland since January 2016; the purpose of the requested additional funding, staff resources or expertise; the response of his Department to each request in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13144/18]

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Written answers

From 1 January 2016 to date, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) made requests to the Department of Health for additional staff and funding on a number of occasions and approvals were granted (as per the table).

In addition to the staffing approvals listed in the attached table, during the period January 2016 to date, the FSAI submitted requests to the Department for the following staff:

- Data & Analysis Manager (2016) - New;

- Executive, Communications (2016) - Replacement;

- Executive, HR (2016) - New;

- Receptionist (2017) - Replacement; and

- Technical Executive (temporary contract) (2017) - New.

The FSAI has indicated that it will reconsider the prioritisation of these and other staff requirements it may have in the context of its new strategy which is being developed in 2018. 

In addition to the funding approvals set out in the attached table, in September 2016, the FSAI indicated that it would require additional funding of €1 million in 2017 and in September 2017, it indicated that it would require an additional €500,000 in 2018 and €1 million in 2019.

These requests were the subject of discussion between the Department and FSAI but they were not approved at the time.  The Department is currently liaising with FSAI regarding its 2018 funding requirements.

2018

Title and Grade

No. of posts

Date of Approval

Replacement/New

Grade between HEO and AP – Senior Technical Executive, IT

1

20.03.2018

Replacement

AP Equivalent (Risk Manager)

1

15.03.2018

New

2017

Title and Grade

No. of posts

Date of Approval

Replacement/New

Director of Corporate Affairs

1

09.03.2017

New

Finance & Planning Manager

1

20.04.2017

Replacement

Enforcement Policy Manager

1

20.04.2017

Replacement

Training Compliance Manager

1

20.04.2017

Replacement

Technical Executive, PHN

1

20.04.2017

Replacement

Technical Executive Chemical Safety

1

20.04.2017

Replacement

Administrative Assistants

6

20.04.2017

Replacement

Finance & Planning Manager

1

10.05.2047

Replacement

Enforcement Policy Manager

1

10.05.2017

Replacement

Technical Executive, PHN

1

10.05.2017

Replacement

Technical Executive, PHN

1

27.06.2017

Replacement

HEO Equivalent

1

25.08.2017

Replacement

HEO Equivalent

1

15.09.2017

Replacement

CO Equivalent

1

20.11.2017

Replacement

Number of posts for 2017

19

2016

Title and Grade

No. of posts

Date of Approval

Replacement/New

Administrative Assistant

1

26.01.2016

Replacement

Administrative Assistant

1

10.03.2016

Replacement

Administrative Assistant

1

14.03.2016

Replacement

HEO Equivalent

1

04.05.2016

Replacement

Technical Executive

1

13.05.2016

Replacement

Technical Executive

1

03.08.2016

Replacement

Senior Technical Executive

1

11.08.2016

Replacement

Senior Technical Executive

1

26.08.2016

Replacement

Senior Technical Executive – IT Grade

1

10.11.2016

Replacement

Enforcement Policy Executives

2

16.12.2016

Replacement

Number of posts sanctioned for 2016

11

Approvals for Additional Funding

Year

Amount

Reason for funding

-

2016

€2,500,000

Once-off Capital funding required in 2017 for FSAI’s relocation to new offices

Approved

2016

€355,000

To meet additional VAT costs post FSAI’s relocation

Approved but deferred until required in 2018

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