Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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94. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Low Pay Commission is sufficiently resourced and funded to carry out independent evidence based research; the way in which it is resourced in comparison to the UK's LPC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29998/16]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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The budget for the Low Pay Commission is €474,000 for 2016. This is broken down into pay and non-pay elements. The pay budget is €244,000 and covers salaries for the secretariat and members’ fees. The non-pay budget of €230,000 covers research and administration costs.

The secretariat has a designated staffing complement of three full time staff. The Commission has also entered into a 3 year research partnership with the ESRI.

I believe that the resources allocated are sufficient to deliver the Commission’s work programme for 2016.

I understand that the UK Low Pay Commission has a budget of Stg£827,000, and eight full time staff members. While the remit of both bodies is broadly similar in nature, the work of the UK Commission covers a wider geographical area and a significantly greater number of stakeholders to engage with.