Written answers

Tuesday, 8 May 2018

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Brexit Staff

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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221. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress to date regarding filling positions for the allocation made in budget 2018 to recruit a further 40 to 50 staff to supplement existing staffing numbers in her Department and agencies under her remit, as a Brexit measure. [20099/18]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In my Department, a dedicated Brexit Unit was established in 2016, led at Assistant Secretary level within the EU Affairs and Trade Policy Division, to coordinate and represent the Department and it's Agencies response to Brexit.  During 2017, this Unit increased its staffing complement to lead on engagements with a broad range of stakeholder to further inform and validate this response.

Given the wide mission my Department has and the continuing impact on all policy matters, officers across all policy areas of my Department may deal with Brexit-related issues.

In this context, staff expertise has been drawn from across a number of different policy areas, and these staff have been assigned to a number of additional postings across the whole Department that have been most impacted by Brexit.  We are continually prioritising the Brexit challenges and will actively keep the staffing requirements under review through workforce planning during 2018.

The State Agencies, listed below, received an additional pay allocation in Budget 2018 to manage the impact of Brexit. It is important to note however that the work of very many Business Units both within my Department and it's Agencies are impacted by Brexit and are responding to it outside of the specific numbers mentioned below.

Enterprise Ireland

In 2018, Enterprise Ireland was allocated €1.3 million to recruit approximately 20 additional staff members.  To date two positions have been filled and the Agency is actively recruiting the remaining positions.

IDA

Budget 2018 saw the Authority allocated an additional €700,000 to further reinforce its staffing levels. The Authority is using this funding to create 10 new positions across a range of areas in the organisation.  9 of 10 posts are filled to date. It will also be used to hire five more graduates on fixed term rolling three year contracts.

Health and Safety Authority

The Health and Safety Authority received an allocation of €400k for Brexit related posts for 2018.  Following a review of its Workforce Plan the Authority identified relevant posts to be filled and my Department has given sanction to fill seven inspector posts at this stage. The Health and Safety Authority will commence the recruitment process for these positions in the coming weeks.

It should be noted that previous sanction was given in late 2017 for the filling of a new Brexit related Accreditation Officer post in the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) within the Health and Safety Authority. That recruitment process has recently been completed and the successful candidate is expected to take up the position in early June.

Science Foundation Ireland

SFI were allocated an additional €400k in Budget 2018 and has filled four posts which have Brexit related activities attached to their roles.

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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222. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of staff recruited in Enterprise Ireland, local enterprise offices, LEOs, InterTradeIreland and IDA Ireland since the Brexit referendum in June 2016, by new staff hires and replacement staff in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20100/18]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, an additional €3 million was secured for my Department in respect of Pay in Budget 2017 targeted specifically to assist with increased staffing needs for the Department and a number of our Agencies to deal with the evolving Brexit scenario.  In Budget 2018, an additional pay allocation of a further €3 million was gained for further strengthening staff resources in respect of Brexit, within the Department and some of its Agencies. These funds have, and are, enabling the Department and, primarily, our Agencies to recruit additional staff to supplement existing staffing numbers in the context of the workload associated with Brexit. 

It is important to note however that the work of very many Business Units both within my Department and its Agencies are impacted by Brexit and are working on responding to it despite not being recruited specifically for this purpose.

The specific information requested by the Deputy in relation to recruitment in Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices, InterTradeIreland and the IDA has been sought, and will be supplied separately as soon as it is available.

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