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Brexit Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2018

Wednesday, 7 February 2018

Ceisteanna (64)

John Curran

Ceist:

64. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 19 of 12 October 2017, the progress which has been made to fill these vacancies in view of the threat of Brexit for business here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5844/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Since the parliamentary question to which the Deputy refers was taken, my Department and its Agencies have made progress in respect of filling Brexit related vacancies. These vacancies arose in respect of posts identified as a result of the additional €3 million that was secured in Budget 2017.  I have set out the specific updates in respect of each separate body as follows:

With regard to my own Department and the Brexit Unit, there has been an increase in staffing of one Assistant Principal and one Higher Executive Officer since the question was last raised in October 2017.  The dedicated Brexit Unit continues to be led by an Assistant Secretary, and is now supported by a staff complement of seven (one Principal Officer, three Assistant Principals, two Higher Executive Officers and one Clerical Officer).

In addition to this, the work of very many Business Units within my Department and our Agencies are impacted by Brexit. We are prioritising the Brexit challenges and will actively keep the staffing requirements under review through workforce planning.

Enterprise Ireland's Exchequer pay provision for 2017 included an additional €1.7 million to assist in the recruitment of an additional 39 Brexit specific posts. 36 of these posts have been filled to date and 3 are currently under active recruitment.

The IDA identified an additional 10 client-facing posts, in respect of the additional €750,000 it was allocated in 2017.  It has filled all of these posts after a rigorous recruitment process across a wide variety of channels.

Science Foundation Ireland has filled three posts which have Brexit related activities attached to their roles, as a result of the additional €150,000 allocated to them in 2017.  These successful applicants commenced their positions in November and December (2017), and in January (2018).

My Department provided an additional €150,000 to the Health and Safety Authority in 2017, in respect of the recruitment of three specific Brexit related posts. I understand from the HSA that the initial recruitment campaign did not result in the successful filling of the first two of these posts (Grade III inspector and a Socio-Economist). Consequently, a new recruitment campaign was launched in early December for the filling of both posts with a closing date of 10 January 2018.  Shortlisting of applicants is now complete and preliminary interviews are being held on 8 February in relation to the Grade III Inspector post.  As regards the Socio-Economic post, the response rate was very low and unfortunately no suitable candidates were identified from the shortlisting process.  The HSA will review its position over the coming weeks and consider how best to market this post so as to attract suitable candidates.

Recruitment planning is underway for a third post (Grade II Brexit related Accreditation Officer) that was sanction in December 2017. The HSA hope to advertise this post within the next fortnight.  

A further €3 million in respect of Pay has been secured for my Department in Budget 2018, for the purposes of recruiting additional staff resources to further respond to Brexit and help meet the Government plans to double Ireland's global footprint.

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