556. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of EU Presidency policy and administrative officers now employed on temporary contracts across her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [54596/26]

The Department is currently supported by one temporary EU Presidency Policy Officer and one temporary Administrative Officer, both of whom are locally engaged staff based at Ireland's Permanent Representation in Brussels. As locally recruited staff, they are not eligible to apply for internal Civil Service competitions and their contracts will end on completion of Ireland's Presidency. All other Presidency-related roles are filled by established civil servants who, following the Presidency, will be redeployed within the Department to address existing vacancies and business priorities.