208 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of staff employed by his Department on 1 January 2009; and the number of staff employed on 10 December 2009. [47790/09]

On 1 January 2009, there were 180 individual members of staff employed in the Department, which includes the National Archives of Ireland. (The Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) figure was 173.97). On 10 December 2009, there were 163 members of staff employed in the Department. (The WTE is 157.32).