Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2018
327. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the cost of implementing a living wage of €11.90 for all employees directly employed or in agencies funded by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32216/18]
View answerThe additional salary cost to the Department of introducing a minimum hourly rate of €11.90 per hour for directly employed staff is estimated to be €311,873 per annum. This figure, inclusive of employers PRSI would be €345,399. The Offices of the Department include the Companies Registration Office, Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, Patents Office, Registry of Friendly Societies, Employment Appeals Tribunal, Labour Court and the Workplace Relations Commission.
The Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) is self-financing and does not receive any Pay provision through my Department’s Vote. Any additional Pay cost on foot of the introduction of a living wage of €11.90 per hour would have to be borne through the fees mechanism operated by the PIAB.
The staff of Inter-Trade Ireland, which is part-funded through my Department's Vote, are all based in Northern Ireland.
I have asked all Agencies under the aegis of my Department to advise me of the relevant information, and I will communicate that information to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
My Department has now compiled the additional information required from the agencies regarding the cost of implementing a living wage of €11.90.
The indicative additional annual cost across the Agencies funded through my Department's Vote would be €95,077. This covers the Competition & Consumer Protection Commission, Health & Safety Authority, IDA Ireland, Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority, Enterprise Ireland, National Standards Authority of Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland.
