Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of staff in his Department; the number of staff per section; if there are anticipated staff cuts; if so, the locations the cuts will be made; the number of staff added to the energy section since he took office; the number of external advisors he has and their roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28015/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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There are 344 staff currently employed in my Department, amounting to 310 equivalent full time posts. Currently, these staff are assigned within my Department as follows:

I have appointed three external advisors to my Department. Two of these advisors perform duties assigned by me as appropriate to the position of Special Advisor as set out in Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. I have also appointed a Special Advisor to the Minister of State at my Department who likewise performs appropriate Special Adviser duties for the Minister of State.

My Department's Secretary General, along with his colleagues on the Management Committee, keeps the issue of staff resources and internal staff deployment under continuous review so as to ensure that we can flexibly respond to changing policy priorities if and when the need arises.

There has been an increase of one extra staff member to the energy area in the last 12 months.

Staffing levels into the future will continue to be determined by reference to Government policy in relation to the overall public sector pay-bill. In this context my Department will put in place appropriate resources to meet its contribution to the cut of 3% in the public service pay-bill announced by the Minister for Finance on 8th July last.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of staff resources allocated to the national broadband scheme tender; if the recommendations on staffing from his Department have been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28014/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is being overseen at senior management level by full-time civil servants at the grades of Assistant Secretary and Principal Officer. Technical advice on the scheme is also being provided by a Telecommunications Specialist Advisor. In addition there are three civil servants at Assistant Principal, Higher Executive Officer and Clerical Officer working full-time on the NBS Working Group. My Department has also engaged a full-time resource with relevant ICT expertise to provide administrative support to the NBS working Group.

ComReg, who are assisting with the development of the Scheme, also provide a full-time resource to the NBS Working Group.

Additional specialist resources are available to the project from both ComReg and the Department when required. These resources are typically available during evaluations of responses and where specific technical issues need to be addressed. I am satisfied that the five full-time resources, aided by additional resources as required, and supported by external legal and technical consultants are sufficient to expedite the NBS in an efficient and timely manner.