Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 December 2016
24. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will provide a detailed breakdown of the way she plans to use the €52 million capital allocation to her Department; the details of the way in which she intends to use the €3 million allocation for Brexit, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38942/16]
View answerThe 2017 Revised Estimates Volume will be published by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in the coming weeks.
Capital funding of €555 million is being made available to my Department next year.
This is a €52 million increase on the 2016 Revised Estimate Volume.
This 10% increase will support Government’s Regional jobs plans.
The additional moneys for 2017 will:
Firstly underpin the Programme for Government commitment to deliver an additional 200,000 jobs by 2020, of which 135,000 jobs will be in the regions, secondly, allow us to proactively respond to Brexit, thirdly assist in strengthening Ireland’s FDI offering and fourthly underpin our R&D plans through Government’s “Innovation 2020” strategy.
The extra €3 million in Pay will enable the recruitment of approximately 50 additional Brexit related staff in my Department and Agencies.
This additional Pay will be distributed to Enterprise Ireland €1.7 million, IDA Ireland €750,000, the Department €250,000 and €150,000 each to Science Foundation Ireland and the Health & Safety Authority.
I have already established a dedicated Brexit Unit in my Department.
I would add that each Agency will be provided with an overall Pay ceiling for 2017 within which they will have some flexibility to align their staffing resources to effectively manage their overall operations, including Brexit specific actions.
