Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

53. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of staff working in the Commission for Regulation of Utilities; their cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25067/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The average number of staff working in the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) at the end of 2021 was 109, at a cost of €8.436 million (payroll and non-payroll costs), funded by industry levy. These are the last published numbers and costs. Figures in respect of 2022 will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas shortly.

A breakdown of the costs, extracted from the CRU Annual Report 2021, is set out in the following table:

CRU estimates that its staff complement will have reached 150 at the end of 2023. It has sanction for 196 staff and restructuring has commenced to provide for delivery of objectives against its current workplan.

CRU’s latest strategic plan outlines the priorities and objectives to be delivered over the next couple of years, including a programme of actions to secure security of supply in our energy sectors, while continuing to meet the demands of our growing and de-carbonising economy to reach our 2030 targets.