Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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235. To ask the Minister for Health the number of requests for additional funding, staff resources or expertise that have been made by Food Safety Authority of Ireland since January 2016; the purpose of the requested additional funding, staff resources or expertise; the response of his Department to each request in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13144/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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From 1 January 2016 to date, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) made requests to the Department of Health for additional staff and funding on a number of occasions and approvals were granted (as per the table).

In addition to the staffing approvals listed in the attached table, during the period January 2016 to date, the FSAI submitted requests to the Department for the following staff:

- Data & Analysis Manager (2016) - New;

- Executive, Communications (2016) - Replacement;

- Executive, HR (2016) - New;

- Receptionist (2017) - Replacement; and

- Technical Executive (temporary contract) (2017) - New.

The FSAI has indicated that it will reconsider the prioritisation of these and other staff requirements it may have in the context of its new strategy which is being developed in 2018. 

In addition to the funding approvals set out in the attached table, in September 2016, the FSAI indicated that it would require additional funding of €1 million in 2017 and in September 2017, it indicated that it would require an additional €500,000 in 2018 and €1 million in 2019.

These requests were the subject of discussion between the Department and FSAI but they were not approved at the time.  The Department is currently liaising with FSAI regarding its 2018 funding requirements.

2018

2017

2016

Approvals for Additional Funding