Written answers

Tuesday, 10 June 2025

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Corporate Governance

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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443. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of staff employed at the Corporate Enforcement Agency, and the rank they hold; the number of staff vacancies that exist in the Corporate Enforcement Agency; the positions that are vacant, and the length of time they have been vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29122/25]

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The information on the number of staff employed by the Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA), including their grade and current vacancies, is detailed below. Resourcing of the CEA is kept under constant review and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is involved in regular engagement with the CEA in relation to its requirements.

Under the Companies Act 2014, Gardaí seconded to the CEA remain under the general direction and control of the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the CEA and an Garda Síochána is in place which sets out how the relationship between the two organisations is managed. This is available on the CEA website.

  1. CEA STAFF
    Sanctioned positions (including 1 temp) Persons in situ Vacancies
    Total CEA Staff 89 70 19
  2. BREAKDOWN OF GRADES
    Grade Sanctioned positions Persons in situ Vacancies
    Civil Servants, Permanent
    CEO 1 1 0
    PO/ Directors 8 6 2
    Professional Accountant Grade 1/ Forensic Accountants 7 7 0
    Assistant Principals (Gen) 4 4 0
    Assistant Principal (ICT) 1 1 0
    Assistant Principals (Senior Legal Advisor) 6 2 4
    Assistant Principal (Snr. Gov. & Compliance Manager) 1 0 1
    Assistant Principal ( Snr. Digital Investigation Manager) 1 0 1
    Assistant Principal (Snr. HR Manager) 1 1 0
    Professional Accountant Grade 2/ Finance Manager 1 1 0
    Higher Executive Officer & Higher Legal Officers 10 9 1
    Executive Officers 16 15 1
    Clerical Officers 15 15 0
    Total Permanent Civil Servants 72 62 10
    Civil Servants, Temporary
    Assistant Principals (Senior Project Manager) 1 0 1
    Total Temporary Civil Servants 1 0 1
    AGS Seconded
    Inspector 1 0 1
    Det. Sergeant 3 1 2
    Det. Gardaí 12 7 5
    Total AGS Seconded 16 8 8
3. BREAKDOWN OF VACANCIES
Vacancies
Grade Position Vacant Since Notes
PO Director of Criminal Enforcement Feb-25 Role Currently filled on an acting up basis by the Director of Civil Enforcement
PO Director of Governance and Support Operations Nov-24 Competition unsuccessful. Role currently filled on an acting up basis.
AP Senior Legal Advisor Apr-25 Candidate currently going through vetting
AP Senior Legal Advisor Mar-24 Candidate accepted, start date 01/09/2025
AP Senior Legal Advisor Mar-24 Candidate currently going through vetting
AP Senior Legal Advisor Mar-24 Candidate currently going through vetting
AP Senior Digital Investigation Manager Nov-24 Competition to be planned
AP Senior Governance & Support Operations Manager Nov-24 Awaiting suitable candidates from PAS
HEO Human Resources HEO Feb-24 Awaiting suitable candidates from PAS
EO Governance & Support Operations EO Feb-25 Filled by PAS panel, start date 09/06/2025
AP Contract - Senior Project Manager Sep-24 Competition commencing June 2025
Inspector Inspector Oct-24 CEA liaising with AGS as per MOU
Det. Sergeant Det. Sergeant Feb-25 CEA liaising with AGS as per MOU
Det. Sergeant Det. Sergeant Feb-25 CEA liaising with AGS as per MOU
Det. Garda Det. Garda May-25 CEA liaising with AGS as per MOU
Det. Garda Det. Garda May-25 CEA liaising with AGS as per MOU
Det. Garda Det. Garda May-25 CEA liaising with AGS as per MOU
Det. Garda Det. Garda May-25 CEA liaising with AGS as per MOU
Det. Garda Det. Garda Jul-24 CEA liaising with AGS as per MOU

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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444. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of cases referred to and processed by the Corporate Enforcement Agency in each of the years 2021 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29123/25]

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Corporate Enforcement Authority was established in July 2022. The CEA has published one Annual Report covering from the date of establishment in July 2022 to end 2023, which is available on the CEA's website www.cea.gov.ie.

The first Annual Report shows the following information in relation the complaints or reports received, and the details of the liquidators’ reports received and the actions taken in respect of these reports.

Complaints/Reports
Complaints Received 454
Indictable Offence Reports 239
Protected Disclosures 22
SCARP Reports 51
Examiners’ Reports 31
Supervision of Corporate Insolvency
Liquidators’ Reports 1021
Directors Restricted 80
Directors Disqualified 27
Files submitted to the DPP 12
The 2024 Annual Report will be published after it is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in line with S. 944T of the Companies (Corporate Enforcement Act) 2021. This will contain information related to reports it has received and its enforcement activities.

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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445. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide information on the funding arrangements for the Corporate Enforcement Agency; and to outline its budget allocation for each of the years 2021 to 2024 and its spend in each of these years. [29124/25]

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) is funded by the Exchequer. The CEA submits a request letter to the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment on a monthly basis seeking a drawdown of the funds required for the coming month. Funding of the CEA is kept under ongoing review by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, and the funding requirements are discussed at the regular liaison meetings held between the Department and the CEA.

The CEA was established in July 2022. The table below shows the CEA's budget allocation and spend.

CEA Budget Allocation and Spend
2022 (July to Dec) 2023 2024
€'000 €'000 €'000
Budget Allocation 5,067 9,706 11,101
Spend 2,655 6,745 7,088

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