2003. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of every additional ten community welfare officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56693/26]

Community Welfare Officers are employed at the level of Higher Executive Officer (HEO) within the civil service grade structure.

The standard HEO pay scale is a seven point pay scale running from €60,029 to €70,547 per annum with two long service increments payable after a number of years at the top point on the salary scale. The second long service increment brings the annual salary to a maximum of €76,546.

Therefore, the minimum basic salary cost  (at entry level) of ten additional Community Welfare Officers is just over €600,000 per annum. However this cost increases on annual basis, as officers move up the HEO salary scale

I trust this clarifies the matter.