Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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117. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of staff due to retire from the Revenue Commissioners in the next five years; the current total number of revenue staff; the average age of staff in the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5361/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they estimate that in the region of 1,000 staff will retire from their organisation over the next five years based on the current age profile. 

Revenue's multi-annual pay ceiling for 2015-2017 provides for an annual average whole time equivalent (WTE) staff level of 5,874 while its current  whole time equivalent staff number is 5,651 (6,040 headcount).  The current average age of staff in Revenue is 48.

Based on current staffing levels and projected retirements Revenue will require to fill critical posts at all grades in the next five years.

 Under a delegated sanction received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform the Revenue Commissioners are obliged to fill posts in the first instance by reference to the Public Service Resource panel before considering open recruitment.

 Revenue has already commenced recruiting staff from Public Appointments Service panels and from existing Revenue open recruitment panels. Using its recruitment licence from the Commission for Public Service Appointments, Revenue also plans to recruit specialist staff at Principal, Assistant Principal, Administrative Officer and Executive Officer levels.

Revenue is currently engaged in running open competitions at Assistant Principal Level for a panel of tax professionals and two ICT specialists.  These competitions have been advertised nationally and on the Public Appointments Service (PAS) website. Recruitment competitions for Principal Officer (Data Analyst), Administrative Officer (Compliance and ICT) and Executive Officer (Compliance) are planned for the first six months of 2015. The number of posts to be filled will depend on critical vacancies arising, projected business needs and the number of posts that can be filled through redeployment and from internal promotion panels. Overall Revenue expects to fill around 400 posts from open competitions advertised in 2014 and 2015. All Revenue's open competitions will be advertised nationally and on the PAS website.

In my Budget Statement I signalled an increase in Revenue resources as one of the elements of the Corporate Tax Reform Road Map to reflect  its role as 'competent authority' and in recognition of the many changes taking place globally in corporate tax. I fully support Revenue's proactive approach in sourcing the skilled professional and technical expertise required to allow it to deliver on its challenging role.