Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Deputy to bear with me while I get the detail on that. With regard to the staffing of the office generally, we can get a specific note on staffing as it relates to Brexit. One of the predominant issues, as I referenced in reply to Deputy Farrell, when it comes to cost implications for the Chief State Solicitor's office is the multi-annual nature of the work, the interface with the European legal system and how case management can take many years. From a commercial case management perspective, it can involve complex work over a number of years. There is ongoing engagement between the office and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and a substantial increase was secured for 2022. Two elements occurred this year that were a positive for capturing staff recruitment and retention. One relates to maternity leave cover where staff going on maternity leave can be replaced immediately or within a reasonable timeframe. There has been budgetary allocation for that and all of that has allowed for good continuity of work. There has also been an incremental credit and that has also had an important impact on the continuity of work.

On managing Brexit more generally, the feedback we have received is that it is part of the regular work. The Chief State Solicitor's office's work cuts across Departments and all issues. The office has in excess of 300 staff. As I said, there is a significant increase there for next year. That is the feedback on it.