Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2024
70. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications about workforce planning at the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority; to provide a breakdown of the full-year cost of employing one FTE, per staffing grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36267/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) was established 17 July 2023. The agency has regulatory functions in the marine area that form part of a new approach to marine planning established by the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021.
The Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 at Section 64(1) provides that:
“64. (1) The MARA may, with the consent of the Minister given with the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, appoint such and so many persons to be members of the staff of the MARA as it may determine”.
The MARA provided for a structure of a CEO plus 74 staff in its workforce plan and for which sanction has been provided by the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform.
At June 2024, the MARA report its staff complement was 45 and is estimated to reach 58 by end year. Recruitment and staffing remain a priority for MARA. The agency is actively recruiting and it notes structures will reflect learnings from the first year of operation and be informed by the demand for MARA’s services.
The MARA salary scales are aligned with civil servant grades. The following table outlines the full year costs for FTE based on civil servant median rates for 2024:
|
CEO |
PO |
AP |
HEO |
AO |
EO |
CO |
Senior Marine Advisor ( Engineer Grade 1) |
|
168,937 |
114,830 |
87,044 |
63,164 |
52,712 |
46,729 |
37,004 |
90,221 |
