Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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60. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of staff of various grades to be recruited in regions nationally to deal with persons who are considered high-wealth individuals in view of the fact that the Revenue Commissioners are considering reducing the threshold for these persons from €50 million to possibly €30 million or a lower figure; the resulting increase in work that will be required to deal with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18098/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Revenue that their structural realignment in 2018 had a particular focus on optimising the alignment of resources and risk in line with Revenue’s Statement of Strategy 2017–2019. In the context of realignment there was an increase in the number of specialist and experienced staff assigned to Revenue’s Large Cases - High-Wealth Individuals Division (LC-HWID) and the Division currently has c.125 staff at various grades based in Athlone, Kilkenny, Waterford and Dublin.

I understand from Revenue that individuals with net assets of over €50m are managed by its LC-HWID.  An initial review of this case base has just been completed with a view to lowering the threshold, and this matter will be finalised shortly by Revenue.

The work of the Division includes profiling high-wealth individuals and their related entities and carrying out a programme of risk-based compliance interventions, including audits, as deemed necessary.

I am further advised by Revenue that the increased staff in the Division will initially manage the expanded case base that will arise from a lowering of the threshold used to determine allocation to LC-HWID and the matter of assigning further staff to the Division is and will remain under regular review.

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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61. To ask the Minister for Finance the level of recruitment planned by the Revenue Commissioners in 2019 at each different grade level separate from recruitment that will be required to deal with Brexit issues; the number of persons expected to retire; if this recruitment will be sufficient to replace persons who are retiring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18099/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Revenue that, excluding staff required to deal directly with Brexit, it plans to recruit the following staff by grade during the rest of 2019:

The number of Revenue staff forecast to retire between now and the end of 2019 is 180.  I am satisfied that there will be sufficient staff recruited to replace all staff retiring and other losses, such as mobility to other Government Departments.