David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have one item. There was a comprehensive discussion at the last meeting about the staff complement of the Comptroller and Auditor General's office. Reference was made to the authorised maximum staff number and the actual number of staff employed. The authorised figure was 164 and the actual figure was 146. There was some discussion about agency staff, contracted staff and outsourced audits. I followed up with questions and I believe it merits discussion at a further meeting. In 2011, the staff complement as a percentage of the authorised maximum staff complement was 97%. It is now 89%. When the authorised maximum staff complement at that time was combined with contracted staff and outsourced staff for audits, it was greater in number. It is now less. This shows up potential capacity problems within an office that is very relevant to our work. It merits a discussion when we come back again in the autumn.