asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the new decentralised offices for a section of his Department in Sligo will be opened; the section of his Department to be moved there; the total number of civil servants to go to Sligo; the numbers involved for each grade of civil servant; the number that have so far been recruited in total and for each grade and have volunteered to go to the offices in Sligo; and the steps which are being taken by his Department to make up the shortfall in numbers, if any.
Written Answers. - Decentralisation Scheme.
70.
The target date for the first of my Department's staff to transfer to Sligo is the beginning of July 1989 when staff from the Pensions area will take up duty in the new offices. The remaining functions which will be transferred on a phased basis to Sligo will be drawn from Social Assistance Allowance, Widows' and Orphans' Pension and "Free" scheme areas.
Some 150 staff will be involved in the first phase and some 300 staff will be required overall ranging from messenger to principal. Staff were sought on a voluntary basis from within the Department and volunteers were also sought from other Government Departments. A chart showing the ultimate numbers required in each grade together with the numbers who volunteered and the shortfall is set out below.
Under the aegis of the decentralisation scheme the Department of Finance recently announced that promotion competitions will be held to make up the shortfall in promotional grades and my Department is at present making arrangements to hold competitions for this purpose. The question of making up the shortfall in the case of non-promotion grades, i.e. clerical assistants and messengers, is at present under consideration.
|
Grade |
Required |
Volunteers |
Shortfall |
|
Principal |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
A.P. |
5 |
4 |
1 |
|
H.E.O. |
11 |
7 |
4 |
|
E.O. |
35 |
17 |
18 |
|
S.O. |
19 |
2 |
17 |
|
C.O. |
91 |
24 |
67 |
|
C.A. |
132 |
70 |
62 |
|
P.K. |
5 |
1 |
4 |
|
Messengers |
6 |
0 |
6 |