Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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641. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated full year cost if the budget for the Data Protection Commission was increased by 12.5%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24856/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to keeping the resourcing of the DPC under on-going review to ensure that it has what it needs to deliver. The gross expenditure allocation for the Data Protection Commission in 2020 is €16.9m. A 12.5% increase in this allocation would cost €2.1 million giving a total gross allocation for the vote of €19 million on a full year basis.

Significant increases in funding have been made available to the Data Protection Commission in recent years. This is in recognition of the additional scope and responsibilities of the Office. The budget has increased from €3.6 million in 2015 to €16.9 million in 2020. The budget of €16.9 million in 2020 is a 61% increase on the actual expenditure by the office of €10.5 million in2019.

That increase in budgetary provision further demonstrates the Government’s continuing commitment to meeting the funding requirements of the Irish data protection authority and the importance of a strong regulatory data protection framework to underpin the continuing expansion and growth of Ireland’s digital economy.

My Department, the Office of the DPC and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are actively engaging on these matters in the lead-up to Budget 2021.