Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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365. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of hiring additional Brexit staff in his Department; the cost by grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50914/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Following the UK referendum in June 2016, my Department established a dedicated Brexit and International Trade Division. The Division co-ordinates the ongoing analysis, consultation and engagement activities being undertaken by a large number of administrative, technical and veterinary staff across the Department. An internal Brexit Response Committee comprised of expertise drawn from the wide range of Divisions affected by Brexit (including, for example, Meat and Milk Policy, Animal Health and Welfare, Food Industry Development, Economics and Planning, and Seafood Policy and Development) has also been established. The Brexit Unit feeds into the whole-of-Government co-ordination being undertaken by the Department of the Taoiseach.

The Unit comes under the responsibility of an Assistant Secretary and is led by an experienced Principal Officer with a team of both experienced and newly recruited staff. The cost of the unit has been accommodated within the existing sanctioned pay ceiling for the department. The current staffing complement is 3 Assistant Principal Officers, 3 Higher Executive Officers/Administrative Officers and 1 Clerical Officer. The estimated staffing and associated annual costs of the Brexit Unit are €856,685.50.

The function of this unit is to co-ordinate the Department’s preparations for Brexit. These extend across virtually every division in the department, from those dealing with veterinary and public and animal health, to plant health, border controls and the various sectoral policy divisions. Staffing requirements for Brexit associated functions across the Department are constantly under review and additional resources will be assigned to relevant functions as the need arises.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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366. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of hiring additional Brexit staff for Bord Bia; the cost by grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50915/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department will be providing support to the State Agencies under its aegis in the context of the challenges arising due to Brexit.

All information relating to the costs of hiring additional staff are operational matters for the State Body concerned and I have asked my Department to forward the Deputy's question to Bord Bia for direct reply.