Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. She touches on a really important issue, namely, the need to have the capacity to roll out this programme in line with the timeline that is there. As she said, the SEUPB currently has a permanent headcount of 57 employees. The staffing allocation was last reviewed back in 2012 so we believe a review is timely given the very significant increase in the funding that is being made available under PEACEPLUS. Both Departments recognise how vital it is to ensure the SEUPB is resourced appropriately to deliver the new PEACEPLUS programme, as well as managing the ending and the work-out of the current INTERREG and PEACE programmes because those will continue for quite some time as well. We have approved the terms of reference for an external organisational review of the SEUPB. That will commence shortly and be completed this year. This review will allow for an up-to-date assessment of the body's staffing requirements as PEACEPLUS launches and as the current North-South programmes move to closure stage. It may well be that there may be a recommendation arising from that review for an increase in the resources of the body. If that recommendation is made then we will work with our counterparts in Northern Ireland to address that issue. The Senator has touched on an important point and that review will get under way shortly.