Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
560. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of employees, and budget, for each year since its inception to date of the National Cyber Security Centre, NCSC, in tabular form; to outline plans for future development of the NCSC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73354/25]
View answerIn line with commitments made in the Programme for Government, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) transferred to my Department from the Department of the Environment, Communications and Climate on 2 June 2025. The primary role of the NCSC is to monitor, detect and respond to cyber security incidents of all types in the State, and to build cyber resilience.
Work is ongoing to update the National Cyber Security Strategy, which will see a multi-sectoral approach to strengthening Ireland’s resilience in the field, and increasing the skills-base within the country. The NCSC has recently published the National Cyber Risk Assessment, which will play a key role in guiding the direction of the forthcoming strategy. My Department will also shortly launch a public consultation process for the strategy.
I was pleased to recently secure a current funding allocation of €12 million in Budget 2026 for the NCSC. This is a very substantial increase of €4.1 million. This increased funding is due to the significant expansion in scope and role of the centre as a consequence of the NIS2 Directive and the forthcoming National Cyber Security Bill. Once this Bill is enacted, the NCSC will act as the lead authority, responsible for national supervision frameworks, guidance, and EU-level co-ordination. It will also set national cyber security guidance and facilitate consistency across sectors.
The Revised Estimates Volume for the Public Service is published in mid-December every year. It will provide more detail on the allocations that were announced in the Budget.
I am informed that the information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the below table.
|
Year |
Budget (Current) |
Budget (Capital) |
Staff* |
|
2025** |
€7,900,000 |
€2,800,000 |
89 |
|
2024 |
€7,900,000 |
€2,800,000 |
73 |
|
2023 |
€5,500,000 |
€5,450,000 |
55 |
|
2022 |
€2,500,000 |
€2,600,000 |
43 |
|
2021 |
€2,500,000 |
€2,600,000 |
29 |
|
2020 |
€1,500,000 |
€200,000 |
24 |
|
2019*** |
€1,500,000 |
€200,000 |
22 |
*Whole-Time-Equivalent. Staffing costs are funded from within the administrative pay budget, which is shown separately in the REV.
** Post Supplementary Estimate adjustments in November 2025 Current funding was €6,176,000 and Capital €500,000.
***While the NCSC was founded in 2011, prior to 2019, funding for the NCSC was not recorded as a separate line item in the annual Appropriation Accounts.
