Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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54. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to ensure that his Department has the capacity and expertise to manage the transition in energy efficiency and renewable energy and to carry out its expanded function in relation to carbon budgets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25159/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In October 2020, as part of the budget process, my Department received approval for a significant increase in staffing levels amounting to an additional 50 full-time employees, bringing my Department's total pay budget to €31.3 million.

The majority of these additional staff are being deployed across the energy and climate divisions of my Department in order to specifically work on the delivery of the commitments in the Programme for Government, including the transition in energy efficiency and renewable energy as well as the expanded function in relation to carbon budgets.

These staff are being recruited by working closely with the Public Appointments Service as well as the use of existing Civil Service Mobility schemes, to ensure that candidates with the required knowledge, expertise and capacity to perform the new and expanded functions are put in place.

My Department is also currently conducting a review of activities relating to energy policy to ensure that resources are aligned with Government's priorities in this area.