Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
1358. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the number of additional staff employed or that will be employed by his Department directly or under contract for the purposes of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026 [37459/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is participating in the cross Government structures to deliver a successful EU Presidency, and has input into the Policy Programme for the Presidency. It is also working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to support the use of Irish throughout the period, and to ensure relevant staff are supported in doing so as they chair and host meetings and events. My Department also intends to host a range of events associated with the EU Presidency, encompassing various themes including rural and regional development, social inclusion, and minority languages.
I can advise that my Department has not to date employed any new or additional staff directly or under contract to support delivery of the Presidency. While specific staff have been assigned to work on the EU Presidency, to date this has been delivered within my Department’s existing staff cohort. This capacity to deliver using existing staff will continue to be carefully monitored and managed, in line with my Department’s ongoing workforce planning.
