Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2023
189. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated full year cost to double the number of Workplace Relations Commission inspectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44679/23]
View answerThe WRC Inspectorate is staffed by civil servants of my Department. WRC inspectors are ranked at Executive Officer (EO) Inspector and Higher Executive Officer (HEO) Inspector Team Manager (ITM) levels.
Additional funding of €1.7million has been allocated to the WRC in Budget 2024, bringing the WRC’s total allocation next year to just over €18.5 million. The additional funding in 2024, includes provision for additional WRC inspectors.
The WRC currently has sanction for 70 Inspectors, (61 EO and 9 HEO ITM). Teams are located regionally in five locations, Carlow, Dublin, Sligo, Cork, and Ennis. Regional teams are supervised by 3 Assistant Principal (AP) Regional Managers and 1 Chief Labour Inspector. The inspectorate also has a Solicitor/Assistant Principal. The Inspectorate is part of the Information, Inspection and Enforcement Division of the WRC.
The yearly cost of recruiting an executive officer inspector for the WRC would be approximately €69,827 PPC. This is based on the calculation of staff costs as set out in the Public Spending Code. The code sets out that the cost should be based on the midpoint of the salary scale and include employer’s salary related PRSI, imputed pension costs and overheads e.g., ICT equipment, legal costs, travel and subsistence.
WRC inspectors also qualify for an allowance of €9,455 PPC, bringing the cost of recruiting one EO inspector to approximately €79,282 per annum. Estimate cost of 61 additional EO inspectors is €4,836,202.
The yearly cost of recruiting a HEO/ITM for the WRC would be approximately €94,612 PPC. This is based on the calculation of staff costs as set out in the Public Spending Code. The code sets out that the cost should be based on the midpoint of the salary scale and include employer’s salary related PRSI, imputed pension costs and overheads e.g., ICT equipment, legal costs, travel and subsistence.
WRC HEO/ITM inspectors also qualify for an allowance of €9,455 PPC, bringing the cost of recruiting one HEO/ITM inspector to approximately €104,067 per annum. The estimate cost of 9 additional HEO ITM inspectors is €936,603.
Using the Public Spending Code calculation, the estimate cost of 1 AP Regional Manager is €130,380 per annum. The estimate cost of 3 additional AP Regional Managers is €391,140.
Total estimate cost of doubling the current cadre of WRC inspectors is approximately €6,163,945.
