Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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366. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of civil servants who have been involved in the exchange programme committed to in the joint statement of the Irish and British Governments in March 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22307/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The UK-Ireland scheme for the Exchange of Civil Servants was introduced in 1985. Under the terms of the Scheme civil servants from Ireland could be temporarily transferred to the UK civil service (including the Northern Ireland civil service) for six months, with a reciprocal arrangement for civil servants from the UK to be temporarily transferred to the Irish civil service. In exceptional circumstances the temporary transfer could be extended.

Due to the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the Irish Civil Service, the UK-Ireland Exchange scheme has not operated in recent years. However, the Deputy will be aware that in Budget 2015 I announced the ending of the moratorium and the commencement by the Public Appointments Service of Civil Service recruitment to meet identified needs. In conjunction with this staff in my Department have been engaging with their counterparts in the UK to recommence operation of the Scheme.