Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have a range of different supports available through the different agencies to support businesses to prepare for Brexit and help them mitigate the impact of Brexit on their businesses.

The Department secured an additional €3 million in current funding and €5 million in capital funding in 2018, increasing the record capital allocation in 2017. The additional €3 million in current funding will support the recruitment of 40 to 50 staff across the different agencies to meet the Brexit challenge. This brings the number of new Brexit-related staff posts to approximately 100 in the past two years and demonstrates the Department's determination to ensure that it, together with all the offices and agencies, is sufficiently resourced to meet the Brexit challenge.

My Department established a dedicated Brexit unit in 2016. The unit is led by an assistant secretary within the EU affairs and trade policy division. It co-ordinates and represents the Department's and agencies' response to Brexit, and supports me in my position on the Cabinet committee dealing with Brexit. The unit continues to undertake a range of important Brexit-related tasks.

The Government is working very hard to get the best possible deal for Ireland as part of the EU negotiating team. We have consistently called for the closest possible relationship with the UK after Brexit. Considerable work is going on across Government to ensure we get the best possible deal for Ireland.

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