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Cybersecurity Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 February 2022

Wednesday, 9 February 2022

Questions (47)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

47. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures taken to increase Ireland’s cyber-security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7108/22]

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Written answers

The National Cyber Security Strategy 2019-2024 is a whole-of-Government strategy to address the growing threat of cyber security incidents, to ensure Ireland can benefit fully from the digital transformation. The Strategy includes 20 separate measures to safeguard public sector networks and essential services, to support the development of Ireland's cyber security industry and ensure we play our part in defending a free, open, secure and stable cyberspace.

As part of the implementation of the Strategy, in 2021 external consultants were commissioned to conduct a Capacity Review and to benchmark the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) with similar agencies in Europe and internationally. On foot of the Review, in July the Government agreed a number of measures to support the continued development of the NCSC over the coming five years. The measures agreed include increasing the overall fulltime staffing complement of the NCSC to at least 70 over the next 5 years, with a first tranche of an additional 20 staff recruited by the end of the year bringing the serving complement to 45. A cyber security graduate training programme will also be introduced. In addition, the General Scheme of a Bill will be prepared for Government approval to establish the NCSC on a statutory basis and provide for related matters including clarity around its mandate.

The NCSC also has an extremely strong relationship with both the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána, including in sharing information on trends, developments and incidents and in sharing capacity and best practice. The NCSC also works to support Government Departments and other public bodies to improve the resilience and security of their IT systems to better protect services that people rely upon, and their data, and the NCSC works very closely with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) in this regard.

My Department has also recently published the baseline cyber security standard to be applied by all Government Departments and Agencies. The NCSC has worked with colleagues across Government to develop the standard which will support public bodies to identify cyber risks, deploy appropriate mitigation measures, and protect personal and other important data. In addition, the Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) based within in the NCSC, has developed and deployed technology on the infrastructure of a Government Departments, to detect and warn of certain types of threat.

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