Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

273. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total number of additional staff to be taken on in his Department and in all individual State agencies and bodies under his aegis in 2017, in tabular form; the total cost of hiring additional staff in his Department and in each individual State agency or body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31427/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department has recently received sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for the recruitment of an additional 19 staff. The additional resources were approved to support the Department's management of the National Broadband Plan and the delivery of priorities in the climate action area.

The total cost of these resources is estimated at €1.4m per annum and the additional funding to cover these posts has been provided in the Department's budgetary allocation for  2017.

During the course of 2017, other posts in the Department will arise in the context of business priorities and vacancies. It is not possible to give specific details of these posts at this stage. However, the filling of all posts is subject to the completion of a business case and an evaluation process having regard to the Department's business priorities.

The information requested by the Deputy regarding staffing in bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each body.  My Department will ask the relevant bodies to provide the information directly to the Deputy.