Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The budget increased from €4.85 million in 2019 to €5.753 million in 2020. Across the Department, an additional 31 staff were recruited, 14 of whom were in the energy section and eight in the climate section. Regarding the two other areas with a big increase in demand in the Department, seven staff were taken on in respect of the national broadband plan and two in respect of cybersecurity. The number of staff the Department took on, 31, will increase. There will be a further 50 staff recruited this year and an additional 67 in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Therefore, we are talking about a major ramping up of resources in the Department and relevant agencies.