Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Oct 2003

Vol. 571 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

89 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Defence the number of staff employed by his Department; the bodies within its aegis which are covered by the benchmarking agreement; the projected costs in 2004 of paying this award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21642/03]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

The total number of civil servants, civilian employees and members of the Defence Forces, including members of the nursing service and the chaplaincy service, in my Department amounts to 12,141. The benchmarking process has yet to be completed in respect of all civilian employees in my Department. The projected cost in 2004 of payment of the benchmarking award is €22 million.

The Civil Defence Board, which was formally established in May 2003 and is under the aegis of my Department, is covered by the public service benchmarking agreement. The board is staffed by civil servants of the Civil Defence branch of my Department who are included in the total figures above.