I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 65 together.
I wish to inform the Deputy that with regard to any vacancies in the Department of Finance, the Department is committed to the Civil Service Workforce Planning process and has a robust Recruitment and Selection policy which feeds into an ongoing Resource Review conducted and directed by the Executive Board. This process identifies on a case by case basis, both current and upcoming resource requirements in the Department and the best method to fill each vacancy. The timescale for filling vacancies from open or interdepartmental competitions varies and is dependent on the availability of panels from the Public Appointments Service (PAS). The absence of a PAS panel will generally delay the filling of a vacancy. Internally run competitions in the Department generally have a quicker turnaround time. To date in 2019 52 new staff have joined the Department and we currently have 9 vacancies as follows: 1 Principal Officer, 2 Administrative/Higher Executive Officer, 4 IGEES Administrative Officers and 2 Executive Officers. We are expecting to receive candidates to fill these posts in early 2020.
The Deputy should note that the structure of the Department of Finance has changed over the years and I am answering the Parliamentary Question as per the structure of the Department now. The number of persons working in the Department of Finance by functional area at the end of each year since 2015 to date is set out in the following table as Full Time Equivalents.
Number of persons working in the Department of Finance by functional area at the end of each year since 2015 to date:
Division
|
2019 (as at 2 Dec 2019)
|
2018
|
2017
|
2016
|
2015
|
Economic
|
32.4
|
33.2
|
30.7
|
27.6
|
23.8
|
Tax Policy
|
45.2
|
47.4
|
38.53
|
34.3
|
32.5
|
EU & International
|
21.5
|
21.33
|
24.9
|
21.7
|
19.4
|
Banking
|
32.56
|
31.33
|
31.13
|
24.93
|
21.93
|
Funds, Insurance, Markets & Pensions
|
29.5
|
30.8
|
30.8
|
30.6
|
27.5
|
Shareholding & Financial Advisory
|
16
|
18.6
|
19.5
|
18.5
|
19.5
|
International Finance
|
22.4
|
23
|
24.47
|
33.67
|
29.77
|
Human Resources
|
13
|
13
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
Facilites Management Unit
|
37.4
|
37.8
|
38
|
38
|
40
|
Corporate Affairs (including Secretary General's and Minister Offices)
|
41.23
|
40.03
|
35.6
|
22
|
22
|
Exchequer, Accounts
|
19.85
|
25.64
|
26.5
|
37
|
36
|
Total
|
311.0
|
322.1
|
311.1
|
300.3
|
285.4
|