Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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466. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the cost of implementing a living wage of €11.50 per hour for all employees directly employed or in agencies funded by his department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10101/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The remuneration of the staff of my Department is as sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in line with Government policy.

It is difficult to estimate the potential cost of introducing an hourly rate of €11.50 per hour for all employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as the Department recruits a large number of temporary clerical staff on a seasonal basis. This figure varies from year to year.

The best estimate of the cost per annum is in the region of €300,000 (lowest possible estimate) to €750,000 to include permanent and temporary staff.

There are no State Agencies funded by my Department.