Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2022
174. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total spend by his Department and the agencies under his remit on cybersecurity measures since 2019 to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51171/22]
View answerThe National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), located within my Department, is the government’s operational unit for network and information security and acts as a central contact point in the event of a government or nationwide cyber-security incident affecting the State. It serves a constituency made up of organisations from the Irish Government and many of the Critical National Infrastructure providers from key sectors such as energy, transport and health. It engages in a comprehensive set of tasks around cyber-security, with a primary focus on securing government networks and securing Critical National Infrastructure. It encompasses the State’s National/Governmental Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT-IE).
The non-pay, current and capital expenditures from 2019 to date are presented in the table below:
|
Year |
NCSC Spend |
|
2019 |
€1,529,000 |
|
2020 |
€1,576,000 |
|
2021 |
€1,813,000 |
|
2022 (to date) |
€634,602 |
The budget for the NCSC was increased substantially in 2022, with a further €2.5 million allocated across current and capital funding. The current expenditure outturn for year-end 2022 is projected to be at least €1,877,450. It is important to highlight that a substantial proportion of the costs related to the NCSC's interim facility - which is nearing completion - have been borne by the Office of Public Works and paid from Vote 13. This will lead to a projected underspend on the capital allocation for the NCSC. I will seek approval from the Oireachtas for this unspent funding to be reallocated to other priority investment areas in my Department's Vote. The Government has approved a further increase of €7.35 million in the budget allocation for the NCSC in the 2023 Estimates to support the implementation of the NCSC's technology strategy as well as new measures which will arise from the Mid-Term Review of the National Cyber Security Strategy, both of which are currently being prepared. This is broken down into an increase of €3m for current, and €2.85m for capital.
In addition to the spend of the NCSC on cybersecurity measures my Department, and the agencies under the DECC remit, invest in the security of our own network and systems. With respect to the expenditure by my Department on cyber security, The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. It is being collated and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency.The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations.
