621. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht 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. [54600/26]

My Department will host a range of events with an EU focus during the Presidency, encompassing various themes including rural and regional development, social inclusion and minority languages.

My Department currently has two employees who have moved to new temporary roles within the Department to carry out EU Presidency related work, one Administrative Officer and one Assistant Principal Officer. Both are existing permanent employees of this Department and will return to their previous roles following the EU Presidency.

My Department is also waiting for an additional bilingual Administrative Officer to be assigned to DRCDG to carry out EU Presidency related work. My Department currently has no staff based abroad as part of the EU Presidency.