Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1451. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in his Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the Brexit unit; the cost to date; the anticipated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37987/17]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1452. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of staff deployed full-time in his Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38003/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1451 and 1452 together.

The Government’s Brexit Contingency Framework set out that all Departments should identify a senior official to oversee Brexit matters and to create a Top Management sub-committee to deal specifically with the implications of Brexit for their areas of work.

My Department nominated the Assistant Secretary for Energy to take lead responsibility for Brexit matters. Under the chairmanship of this Assistant Secretary a sub-committee, consisting of Principal Officers representing policy areas with potential Brexit implications in my Department, was established.

This sub-committee has representatives from across the divisions of my Department, reflecting its broad remit. The sub-committee meets regularly to ensure that my Department is prepared for the possible implications of Brexit. I would also add that I as Minster participate in the Cabinet Committee structures dealing with Brexit issues and my Department is also represented on the Interdepartmental Brexit Group. This ensures a ‘whole of Government’ approach when dealing with Brexit.

Brexit is a standing item on the Agenda of my Department's Management Board which generally meets weekly and which is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department. It is also on the Agenda of my monthly meetings with the Management Board which examines progress on priority issues being addressed by the Department.

Energy has been identified as a key priority for my Department and Government in the Brexit negotiations. As a result, the Strategic Energy Policy Division - consisting of four staff - has taken a leading role in co-ordinating all Brexit work across my Department.

The work on Brexit to date has been funded from existing budgets including the All Island Brexit Civic Dialogue on Energy on 6 February in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, which had a total cost of €3,590.70.  Planning is underway for a further Brexit Civic Dialogue later this year specifically for industry stakeholders.  The costs will be met out of current budgets.  Given the uncertainty in relation to Brexit, it is not practicable to provide an estimate of further future costs at this time.