436. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of EU Presidency policy and administrative officers now employed on temporary contracts across his Department, in Ireland and abroad; if these individuals can apply to internal civil service competitions for these temporary contracts; the plans being developed to retain these individuals once their contracts cease, given they will have extensive and intimate knowledge of EU and Irish institutional operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54586/26]

My Department is meeting EU Presidency staffing requirements primarily from within existing resources. An additional 25 officers are working to support this delivery, including  three Graduate Policy and Local Administrative Support officers currently serving in Brussels.

The eligibility terms governing participation in each Department competition are clearly stated in the relevant individual competition booklet and any officer who meets the stipulated eligibility terms has an opportunity to participate.

The recruitment or retention of officers to my Department is led by ongoing workforce planning practices, ensuring a long term proactive and strategic plan is in place to meet current and future staffing needs.