The Council is funded from the Central Fund. The Council’s governing legislation, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, sets out the terms of its funding. Annual budgets are subject to a ceiling of €800,000, adjusted by the annual percentage change in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices. The Council determines its budget within this ceiling.
The Council is subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The annual accounts are submitted to the Minister for Finance and a copy laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. When requested to do so the Chair of the Council may give evidence on its accounts before a Committee of Dáil Éireann.
- 2021 Annual Report and Accounts
- 2020 Annual Report and Accounts
- 2019 Annual Report and Accounts
- 2018 Annual Report and Accounts
- 2017 Annual Report and Accounts
- 2016 Annual Report and Accounts
- 2015 Annual Report and Accounts
- 2014 Annual Report and Accounts
- 2013 Annual Report and Accounts
- 2012 Summary of Accounts
- 2011 Summary of Accounts
Staff, Support Services, and Office Facilities
The Council has six full-time members of staff. Support services such as Office Facilities, Accounts, IT, and Reception are provided through the ESRI.
Council Fees
For Council members not employed in the Irish public sector, fees payable are set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: €20,520 for the Chair and €11,970 for the members. Where members, including the Chair, are employed by a body coming within the Irish public sector, no fee is payable to the member concerned.
Compensation for Employer Costs Incurred
Due to the time commitment necessary of Council members to fulfil the functions of the Council, in the case of public sector members a time buy-out is in place to compensate their full-time employers for costs incurred due to the absence of their employees on Council business.
Expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Council are refunded in accordance with civil service domestic rates.
Reporting and Transparency
A schedule of attendance at Council and Committee meetings, including the fees and expenses received by each member, is published in the Annual Report and Accounts.