Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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145. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost of staffing for environmental planning in An Bord Pleanála; and the full cost per post level in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and in Budget 2024, in tabular form. [54983/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I have no function in relation to the matter referred to in the Question.

An Bord Pleanála is an independent statutory body under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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146. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost of staffing for environmental planning in the CRU, and the full cost per post level in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and in Budget 2024, in tabular form. [54985/23]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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148. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the workforce plan of the CRU; the total number of positions that have been filled per grade in 2023; the total number that remain outstanding per grade; when he expects these positions will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54988/23]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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150. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of WTE and HTE staff, by grade, in the CRU, in tabular form. [54990/23]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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151. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of staff in the CRU with biodiversity expertise for example, ecologists, marine biologists, ornithologists; if there are plans to recruit additional staff; and the average cost per WTE and HTE per grade, in tabular form. [54997/23]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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152. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of staff in the CRU with climate action expertise; if there are plans to recruit more; and the average cost per WTE and HTE per grade, in tabular form. [55001/23]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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156. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the workforce plan for the CRU, which included the approval of 74 new whole-time positions; how many have been filled to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55009/23]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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164. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the workforce plan at CRU; the staffing costs at the CRU; the staffing levels; the full year cost to recruit one WTE per staffing level; and the full year cost to recruit one HTE per staffing level. [55027/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 146, 148, 150 to 152, inclusive, 156 and 164 together.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister. CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector, following enactment if the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and subsequent legislation.

While CRU is financed by means of a levy on regulated entities, it must receive approval from the Minister of Environment, Climate & Communications and the Minister of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform, in consultation with the Department of Housing Local Government & Heritage, for staffing levels.

The latest such approval has been given, in full, for the CRU three-year workforce plan, which includes 74 new whole time equivalent positions to meet its objective sunder the Strategic Plan 2022-2024.

Further details, such as employee benefits breakdown, can be found in CRU’s Annual Report 2022 cruie-live-96ca64acab2247eca8a850a7e54b-5b34f62.divio-media.com/documents/CRU_Annual_Report_2022.pdf

CRU estimate they will have a total of 136 FTE staff by the end of 2023.

CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members atoireachtas@cru.ie, which enables them to raise more specific operational and resourcing matters directly to the CRU.

I have asked that CRU respond directly to the Deputy's queries directly.