Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 February 2021
367. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is planned to strengthen the staffing numbers in the marine sector of his Department by the appointment of new and extra senior staff in order to prepare fully and diligently to protect Ireland’s maritime interests during the forthcoming renegotiations of the Common Fisheries Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10800/21]
View answerMy Department uses workforce planning processes to identify the critical resources necessary to formulate long-term strategic policy development to encourage the continuing prosperity of Ireland’s agri-food sector, including the fisheries sector. Workforce planning is a key tool in enabling my Department to anticipate current and future staffing needs. The Workforce Plan aims to ensure that my Department has the right people, with the right levels of talent and skills, in each location and Division, doing the right thing at the right time.
As business needs arise, staff are allocated to support organisational priorities within my Department. Overall staffing levels within Divisions are continually monitored and staff are assigned to Divisions at all grade levels as business needs dictate.
The question of staffing levels in the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter, generally delegated to the Agencies themselves.
