Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 328: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the amount of overtime paid to staff of her Department each year from 1997 to end of 2004; the average amount paid to each employee in 2004; the highest amount paid to a single employee in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27447/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The information requested by the Deputy is set out below.

The average amount paid to each employee in receipt of overtime in 2004 was €4,120. The highest amount paid to a single employee in 2004 was €45,711 of which €7,711 was in respect of overtime worked in 2003.

In the context of my Department's administrative budget, payments in respect of overtime are monitored on a continuous basis. The use of overtime in my Department is an efficient mechanism for dealing with peaks in the levels of activity that arise with many of my Department's schemes and is one of the strategies used by management to match resources available to my Department with fluctuating demands in an efficient and cost effective manner.