Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2017
143. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to provide additional funding for Brexit-related posts in her Department or in agencies under her remit. [30107/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn additional €3 million was secured in respect of Pay in Budget 2017 and is being targeted specifically to assist in our response to the evolving Brexit scenario. It is enabling the Department and, primarily, our Agencies recruit some 40 to 50 additional staff to supplement existing staffing numbers. These numbers may grow as Agencies allocate additional Own Resource Income, by agreement with the Department, to recruit further staff to work on "Brexit-related" activity.
The additional €3m has been allocated across:
- Enterprise Ireland (€1,700,000)
- IDA Ireland (€750,000)
- Science Foundation Ireland (€150,000)
- The Health and Safety Authority (€150,000), and
- The Department itself (€250,000)
It must also be borne in mind that my Department and the Agencies will have prioritised the Brexit implications arising for them in their individual work plans for 2017 and beyond which serving staff will contribute to as part of their day-to-day work.
Finally, as we enter the 2018 "estimates" process, and on an ongoing basis, my Department will keep under review the adequacy of resources available for Brexit-related work having regard to the other demands on my Department and family of Agencies given our wide remit.
