Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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6. To ask the Taoiseach the number of staff in his Department who have been assigned to the new shared island unit. [1293/21]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Shared Island unit in my Department is led by an Assistant Secretary with four full-time staff appointed at present. Staffing resources for the unit are kept under ongoing review.

The unit supports implementation of the Government’s commitment to work with all communities and traditions on the island to build consensus around a shared future underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.

Operationally, the unit is focusing its work in three areas: commissioning research, fostering dialogue, and building a Shared Island agenda, including delivery of the commitments in the Programme for Government.

Strengthening social, economic and political links on the island and the promotion of all-island approaches to the strategic challenges facing Ireland, North and South are key objectives for this work.

The unit works in close cooperation with other Government Departments and engages on an inclusive basis with civil society, North and South on the island.