Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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133. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff working in the forensic science laboratory in each of the years 2008 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44141/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy in respect of Forensic Science Ireland, previously known as the Forensic Science Laboratory, is set out in the following table.

As set out in the FSI Strategic Plan 2019-2022, available at forensicscience.ie, demand for FSI services continues to grow, and I am pleased that Budget 2020 provided an allocation of almost €40m for the development of new laboratory facilities at the Science Campus in Backweston. Budget 2020 also provided an additional €2.6m in current funding, bringing the total allocation to €54.4m.

The Deputy will note an increase in staffing between 2018 and 2019, whereby FSI implemented a new workforce plan in 2018, creating new positions in Health and Safety Management and Information Systems Management to support an expanded scope under the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNS Database System) Act 2014.