Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the preparations he has undertaken for the Irish Presidency of the EU Council in January 2013; the amount of money spent on EU Council Presidency related activities to date in 2012; the estimated expenditure up to December 2012; the budget for the six month Presidency specifically; the additional staff he has undertaken; the number of re-assigned staff he has undertaken; the estimated future staff requirements for the Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8847/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I have taken a close interest in the preparation for Ireland's EU Presidency since my appointment as Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform. A Presidency planning group has been set up within the Department and the matter is discussed regularly by the Department's Management Board. My Department also takes an active part in the various Presidency preparation groups established by the Department of the Taoiseach and continues to work closely with the Department of Finance on matters of common interest.

In addition to normal staffing and travel costs, a sum of €343,000 has been provided in my Department's budget for 2012 for Presidency related matters. Expenditure to date in 2012 has mainly been related to travel. As with other Departments, the budget for 2013 has yet to be finalized.

In the areas of staffing, my Department will shortly be appointing an attaché to the Permanent Representation in Brussels to deal with issues falling within the remit of the Department, principally in the area of Cohesion policy. This will be in addition to the Department of Finance personnel already in place there who provide a service to both Departments. Additional staffing requirements are under review.

A key issue for my Department during the Presidency will be the area of Cohesion policy. Under the Commission's proposals, which were published on 6 October 2011, the total Cohesion package is valued at €376 billion, making it the biggest single element of the EU Budget. Last November I attended an Informal Meeting of Cohesion Ministers in Poznan where I had an opportunity to engage with other Ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy, as well as Regional Policy Commissioner Hahn and Social Affairs Commissioner Andor. In December I also attended a meeting of the General Affairs Council devoted to Cohesion Policy. I will continue to be actively engaged in this important issue as we head into the Presidency.