Written answers

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Department of Finance

Departmental Staff

10:00 pm

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide in tabular form, details of the appointments made by the Revenue Commissioners in the period 1 January 2010 to April 2012 at assistant principal and principal officer grades and in each instance, if the candidates were internal appointees or external appointees; if he will indicate, in each instance, the sections or divisions to which the appointments were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19094/12]

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that in the period 1 January 2010 to 13 April 2012, 26 Principal Officers and 61 Assistant Principal Officers were appointed by the Revenue Commissioners. The following Tables 1 and 2 give an indication of the Divisions to which the initial appointments were made and the number of internal or external appointees. Table 1: Principal Officers Appointed by the Revenue Commissioners 1 January 2010 to 13 April 2012.

DivisionTotalInternalExternal
Border Midlands & West44-
Corporate Affairs & Customs11-
Corporate Services211*
Dublin Region33-
East & South East Region22-
Information & Communications Technology321
Investigations & Prosecutions11-
Large Cases514
Planning11-
Revenue Legislation Services22-
South West Region33-
27216

Table 2: Assistant Principal Officers Appointed by the Revenue Commissioners 1 January 2010 to 13 April 2012.

DivisionTotalInternalExternal
Border Midlands & West945
Corporate Affairs & Customs211
Collector General's532*
Corporate Services11-
Dublin Region853
East & South East Region312
Information & Communications Technology33-
Investigations & Prosecutions413
Large Cases1046
Planning44-
Revenue Legislation Services651
South West Region651
613724* Two external appointments were by redeployment from elsewhere in the public sector. The balance were by way of open recruitment competitions.

These appointments were made to replace the loss of key skills and experience in Revenue at a time of significant staffing reductions. Since January 2009, Revenue staffing numbers have reduced by 850 staff (-13%). Despite the appointments set out in Tables 1 and 2, since January 2009 the numbers serving have reduced at Principal level by 38 (26%) and at Assistant Principal level by 120 (2%).

External open recruitment has been an important source for the replacement of critical skills and experience in Revenue and I know that the Commissioners are keen to carry out further open recruitment at these levels. However, the Employment Control Framework process to which Revenue is subject in line with Government policy to reduce public service numbers severely restricts the extent to which Revenue can add additional headcount by way of open recruitment.

However, I recognise the need to replace the loss of key skills and experience in Revenue while meeting the existing Employment Control Framework allocations. I have asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to consider reducing Revenue's target staff numbers over a longer period of time, whilst at the same time allowing Revenue some scope to replace critical skills and experience. This request is under consideration and, in the meantime, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has sanctioned the replacement of some critical posts in Revenue, including at Principal and Assistant Principal Officer level included in the above tables.

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