Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 November 2012
95. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of posts and the locations of the posts expected to be filled from the existing Revenue panel for administrative officers in audit and compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49156/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners that they undertake regular workforce planning analyses to identify key posts and skills that require to be filled to enable them to deliver on their current and developing strategies. The Revenue Commissioners are in on-going discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on their immediate and medium term resource requirements.
Notwithstanding the need to reduce public service numbers generally, an effective tax collection system is an essential element of our fiscal consolidation requirements. In that context, it is important that the Revenue Commissioners have the capacity to recruit staff with key skills and expertise not available within the existing public service. To address skills gaps and deficits that are emerging, and the limited availability of staff from elsewhere within the public service with audit and compliance skills and experience, Revenue was recently granted sanction to undertake an open recruitment competition for Administrative Officer (Audit & Investigation).
In line with the Government policy on public service numbers, and the moratorium on recruitment, the specific sanction of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is required to fill posts in the public service. Public Service bodies are required to refer to the public service resource panel in the filling of any such posts in the first instance. Where critical posts cannot be filled from within existing resources, or through redeployment from within the public sector, a public service body may, subject to sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, fill posts by open recruitment. As the Revenue Commissioners are obliged to refer to the public service resource panel to fill posts in the first instance, and the resource panel is an evolving source, it is not possible to confirm how many new staff Revenue will be in a position to recruit from the current open Administrative Officer (Audit & Investigation) panel or where those posts may be located.
