Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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253. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff within his Department who are based and working with the European Union in Brussels; their present roles and responsibilities; the posts and responsibilities that are presently vacant; the corresponding figures on 23 June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19039/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that one member of staff of my Department is assigned to the post of Public Expenditure and Reform Attaché in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels. The role of the Attaché is to represent and promote Ireland's interests in the policy areas under the remit of the Department, including Cohesion policy and funding, public procurement, e-government, transparency, and EU institutional staffing matters.

There are currently no vacant posts linked to my Department.

In the wake of the Brexit Referendum, my Department was represented in the Permanent Representation by a member of staff serving in a post shared with the Department of Finance. As a consequence of the referendum, however, it was decided to upgrade that post to a dedicated one for my Department alone.

In addition, two members of DPER staff are currently seconded out to the European Commission under the terms of the Seconded National Experts scheme that provides civil servants with the opportunity to work temporarily for an EU Institution. One is located in the DG HR in Brussels and one is located in the DG CNECT in Luxembourg.