Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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727. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of recruiting four additional full-time intelligence analysts at the grade of higher executive officer for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9819/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has a hugely important role to play in ensuring that public confidence in An Garda Síochána is safeguarded and, as such, it has extensive powers under the Garda Síochána Act 2005.

The Government is committed to ensuring that GSOC has the necessary supports and resources in order to fulfil its statutory functions and mandate. A provision of €11.27 million has been made for GSOC in 2021.

The Public Appointment Service (PAS) conducted the most recent recruitment of Intelligence Analysts for GSOC in 2019. The recruitment costs for such competitions are mainly borne directly by PAS with only external costs, such as advertising, invoiced to GSOC, which amounted to approximately €3,800 on that occasion.

I am advised by GSOC that the indicative salary costs per additional analyst, comprising basic salary of approximately €50,000 plus Employer PRSI of €5,500 per annum, are estimated to be approximately €222,000 per annum for four additional analysts.