Mr. Garrett Blaney:

We have sufficient funds to pay any extra staff we recruit. The question is whether we will be allowed to appoint them. When we previously asked for extra staff, we secured an increase in numbers from 115 to 147. We have requested further staff who may or may not be required, depending on the exact role we will have under the NBP. A final decision on that matter has been deferred until there is clarity on the NBP process and all of the arrangements for the NBP are in place.

We will revert to the Department at that point. We have taken on some extra staff and may need more. We will make that further request at that point.