Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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443. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of new staff employed since 1 July 2013 up to 31 December 2013 and the expected annual costs arising therefrom; the expected number to be employed in 2014 and the estimated annual cost arising therefrom; the expected number to be employed in 2015 and the estimated annual cost arising therefrom; the expected number to be employed in 2016 and the estimated annual cost arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33214/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The number of new staff hired in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for 1 July 2013 to 31 December 2013 was 14 Full Time Equivalents (FTE) with a current annual cost of €546 , 821.520, and for January – August 2014 was 11 FTE with a current annual cost of €384,590.74. This Department is currently involved in a Workforce Planning process in which the future staffing needs for DAFM will be forecasted for 2015 – 2017. The Workforce Plan will take into account any potential changes in the nature of work carried out by the Department in the coming years, which is likely to impact on the level of staffing required.

To assist with succession planning, the Workforce Plan will look at the relevant skills and competencies needed for each post and consideration will be given to methods other than recruitment, when considering how to fill posts e.g. training, mobility etc. Until the Workforce Planning process has been completed it is difficult to assess the level of recruitment which will be necessary in 2015 - 2016.