David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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94. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of increasing the number of staff employed within the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General from 140 to 165; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21552/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General estimates that the average number employed in 2016 will be 146 when account is taken of projected departures and planned recruitment competitions being undertaken though the Public Appointment Service on behalf of the Office.  The cost to the Office of salary and PRSI of employing an average of 146 whole time equivalent (WTE) staff over a full year is €9.04 million.

The budget provided to the Office for 2016 is €10.3 million which is sufficient to employ 164 WTE staff.

The gap between the Office's complement of 164 WTE staff and the 140 WTE staff actually employed at the end of June 2016 is due to:

- a higher turnover of staff compared to previous years as opportunities for staff emerge with the improving economic environment,

- time taken to recruit new permanent staff.