Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

We have had the conversation about the Deputy's interest in the Marine Institute previously. Based on the figures I have, at the end of May 2025, the total headcount in the Marine Institute was 273, which was an increase of four on April 2025. One hundred and sixty-five were core Exchequer funded and 108 were temporary externally funded, a 60:40 split between permanent and temporary. A very significant budget comes from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of about €45 million. There is some project money that comes from the Department of about €3.6 million. Approximately €3 million is also provided under the water framework directive in the marine environment. Some €4.5 million also comes from the marine planning offshore renewable energy side of it. This is just the way the work programme has developed there over time. I am happy to look at it and I will engage with the chairman but I do not want to make any false promises.

When it comes to looking at it in the round, the primary purpose of the Marine Institute is to provide information to the Department of food and the marine on fishing stocks and all of that. There is wonderful expertise there. It is a very well-run organisation. It is very highly thought of throughout Europe and beyond. It would be remiss of me at this stage to indicate that I could go beyond where we are at. We need to recognise that we are going into a round of Estimates that will be challenging. The Government has established this new role, which I happen to occupy for the time being. Its purpose is to bring some coherence to the fisheries and marine sector and to attempt to put together that virtual department. I am still conscious that the Departments have their own funding regimes. I am happy to look at it and engage with the chairman of the board and the executive.