Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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203. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of forensic accountants employed by the Revenue Commissioners in 2020; and the associated wage costs. [35446/21]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Revenue that while membership of a professional accountancy body is among the eligibility requirements in its recruitment to senior management tax specialist posts, there has been no requirement for targeted recruitment of forensic accountants to Revenue.

Of the c. 250 Revenue staff who are qualified accountants, three have undertaken the Diploma in Forensic Accounting with the Chartered Accountants of Ireland, supported with sponsorship and refund of academic fees totalling €9,800. While these three staff members are not employed in a specialist capacity, all are engaged in Revenue core business of assessment and collection of taxes and duties. The full year wage cost for these three officers in 2020 was €182,392.