Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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169. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the current wage structure for the Director of the National Cyber Security Centre will be increased from €106,000-€127,000 per annum to the reported €220,000-€290,000 per annum and with benefits between €150,000-€200,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29583/21]

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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195. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the recruitment of a Director of the National Cyber Security Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29821/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 195 together.

Last year as, as part of the ongoing development of the NCSC, it was decided to create two new positions of Director and Chief Technology Officer on the NCSC senior management team. Following an open competition, the CTO role was filled early this year. An open competition was also held for Director of the NCSC. At the conclusion of the competition process, the preferred candidate did not accept the offer of employment. It is intended to re-advertise this role in the near future and the salary to be offered will be decided in the context of that competition.

The capacity of the National Cyber Security Centre has been increased from 7 in 2016 to 29 today.  A Capacity Review of the NCSC which is due to report shortly, will inform the future development of the NCSC and the extent of any additional resources required in order for the NCSC to continue to deliver its mandate.