Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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15. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of WTE and HTE staff, by grade working in MARA and the estimated cost of increasing staffing by 50% at each grade. [28275/25]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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17. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the first and full year cost to establish MARA, and the first and full year cost to double staff at MARA. [28278/25]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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18. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of FTE and PTE staff at MARA at each staffing level; the cost to hire an additional staff member at each staffing level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28279/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 17 and 18 together.

The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) was established on 17 July 2023 and is fully funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. Total outturn from the point of establishment to end 2023 was €1,447,428. Full year outturn for 2024 was €4,763,425.

While, under the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021, recruitment of staff by the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) is subject to sanction from me as Minister as well as the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, the allocation of approved staff is a matter for the MARA.

In respect of 2025, the MARA has a budget of €5.16m toward payroll related costs and, recruiting within the confines of an approved Workforce Plan, it is estimated that it will have a staff complement of 68 by end year.

Arrangements have been put in place by the MARA to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas by providing a dedicated email address: oireachtas@mara.gov.ie.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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16. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost of doubling the number of staff in MARA with expertise in climate action and biodiversity expertise for example ecologists, marine biologists and ornithologists. [28276/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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While, under the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021, recruitment of staff by the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) is subject to sanction from me as Minister as well as the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, the allocation of approved staff is a matter for MARA. MARA has a budget of €5.16m toward payroll related costs and, recruiting within the confines of an approved Workforce Plan, it is estimated that it will have a staff complement of 68 by end year.

Arrangements have been put in place by the MARA to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas by providing a dedicated email address: oireachtas@mara.gov.ie.