352. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Finance the number of vacancies which arose at principal officer level for the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025 in his Department and agencies under the aegis of his Department; the number of these vacancies filled between internal and external methods; the number of vacancies each year at principal officer level filled by mobility; the number of internal competitions for principal officer grade run by his Department since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63024/25]

Principal Officer Vacancies at the Department of Finance

I wish to inform the Deputy that a total of 16 vacancies arose in the Department of Finance at Principal Officer level from 2022 to date in 2025.

The table below sets out the number of vacancies filled by internal and external methods. It also sets out the number filled by mobility. Since 2010, 14 internal competitions for promotions to Principal Officer level have been run by the Department.

To Note: The number of vacancies arising each year does not always match the number of vacancies filled for the same year. The reasons for this include time lapses between arising vacancies and filling of those vacancies and the creation of new positions (in addition to vacancies).

The following information relates to the Bodies under the Aegis of the Department.

Principal Officer Vacancies at the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman

Principal Officer Vacancies arising at the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council

*The vacancies created in 2023 and 2025 both arose due to a principal officer going on secondment to another body. As a result, both of these vacancies were temporary, rather than permanent positions. In both cases, the successful candidate was an internal candidate.

Principal Officer Vacancies at the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General

Office of the Revenue Commissioners

I am advised by Revenue that in the period from January 2022 to date, there were 81 Revenue appointments to posts in the Principal Officer grade. This comprised 13 appointments from Publicjobs or Revenue open competitions; 22 from mobility; and 46 from internal promotion competitions. Furthermore, Revenue has run 22 internal PO competitions from 2010 to-date.

Principal Officer Vacancies at the Office of the Revenue Commissioners

*3 vacancies not filled in this year

Principal Officer Vacancies at the Office of the Tax Appeals Commission

* The Tax Appeals Commission has organised one internal competition for the Principal Officer grade since its inception in 2016.

This PQ is not relevant to the remaining Bodies under the Aegis.