Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1631. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of requests her Department has received from either IDA Ireland or Enterprise Ireland since Brexit for permission to employ additional staff; the number of requests approved, pending or refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41314/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As part of Budget 2017, I secured an additional €3 million pay allocation to help my Department and its Agencies to respond to the challenges associated with Brexit.  Each Agency’s pay ceiling also allows for some flexibility in re-aligning staffing resources to manage emerging challenges and priorities, such as those related to Brexit.

IDA Ireland has identified an immediate requirement for an additional ten client-facing posts to assist the Agency in capitalising on opportunities that may arise on account of Brexit.  The IDA has received €750,000 of the €3 million Brexit allocation to support the recruitment of the personnel required for these additional posts. 

Enterprise Ireland sought sanction to recruit an extra 39 posts as part of its strategic response to Brexit. This request has been approved. These posts will be created in a number of Enterprise Ireland’s overseas offices and in the Irish based team and will be focused on intensifying work with clients to maintain and grow their UK exports and extend their reach into international markets. The new roles will also help to reinforce the competitiveness of clients by working with them to strengthen their productivity, innovation and management capabilities.