Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy for his questions. The capacity review was ordered to assess what additional resources were needed by the National Cyber Security Centre in the face of an escalating level of cybersecurity threats. I am sure that the Deputy is aware that the volume of cybersecurity attacks that are happening around the world greatly increased even before the pandemic but during the pandemic it is estimated that they increased approximately sixfold. In response to that, a capacity review was ordered. This was decided upon, in fact, last summer during the programme for Government negotiations when it was agreed between the Government parties that we would commission a capacity review and see what additional resources were needed by the NCSC.

That was a timely thing to do and was done long before this attack ever happened and the capacity review found that there was an escalating level of threats, that the NCSC was performing well but needed additional resources. The review recommended how those resources should be targeted, how many of each staff should be hired and how much additional money would be needed.