Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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743. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. [24154/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Based on introducing a minimal threshold hourly rate of €11.50, the estimated additional annual cost in 2016 for current staff employed by my Department would be approximately €129,000, after the sanctioned increase of 2.5% under the Lansdowne Road Agreement is taken into account.

The parallel information in respect of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the Bodies themselves.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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744. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the discussions his Department has had with suppliers or service contractors to his Department or to agencies of his Department to ensure that employees of such suppliers and contractors are paid the living wage of €11.50 per hour; the cost of implementing this wage for these employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24169/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The living wage is a voluntary concept at this stage and has no legislative basis. It is not a statutory entitlement and for that reason it cannot be imposed on either suppliers or contractors by the Department. Therefore my Department has not had any discussions with suppliers or service contractors in relation to the payment of the living wage to employees.

In relation to State Agencies this issue is an operational matter for themselves.