Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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174. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of implementing a living wage of €11.50 for all employees directly employed or in agencies funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46406/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that based on the gross hours per week of 43.25 hours 16 of my staff are currently earning less than €11.50 an hour. If these salaries were raised to a minimum threshold of €11.50 an hour then the total additional cost to my Department per annum would be €62,670.63.

In relation to employees employed in agencies funded by my Department, there would be no additional cost if a minimum threshold of €11.50 was implemented.

I can confirm that my Department adheres to all appropriate current wage legislation. As the Deputy is aware, following the outcome of the recent considerations by the Low Pay Commission, the statutory minimum wage rate will increase from the current rate of €8.65 to €9.15 per hour with effect from 1 January 2016. All of the 16 staff aforementioned are currently earning an hourly rate above this new statutory minimum wage.