Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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720. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government 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 presently vacant; the corresponding figures on 23 June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16563/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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At present my Department has one member of staff seconded to the Department of Foreign Affairs as an Attaché in the Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels. This official has responsibility for liaison with the European Commission and European Parliament and other EU Institutions in respect of the broad range of topics within my Department's remit. There are no vacancies in this area at present.

On 23 June 2016 the then Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government had two staff seconded to the Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels. These officials had responsibility for liaison with the European Commission and European Parliament and other EU institutions for all topics which fell within the remit of the Department at that time, particularly in respect of issues related to the Environment and Community briefs. Given the change in functions within my Department since 2016, posts are not directly comparable.