Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Oct 1990

Vol. 402 No. 3

Written Answers. - Decentralisation Programme.

Michael Bell

Question:

83 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline in relation to the decentralisation of State services (1) the dates of the transfer of Dublin based functions to the provinces, (2) the Departments concerned and the nature of the work involved, (3) the grades and numbers involved, (4) the present numbers willing to transfer, and (5) the number of appointments that were required to be filled by promotion and the number and grade of all such promotions and the Departments involved from 1 June 1989 to 30 June 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister of Finance (Mr. A. Reynolds)

(1) and (2) under the decentralisation programme, Government offices have transferred as follows:

Department	Location	Office-Function transferred	Date(s) of Transfer
Defence	Galway	Finance Branch	July 1989
Social Welfare	Sligo	Old Age and Retirement Pensions, Widows and Ophans Pensions, Social Assistance Allowances, Free Schemes.	Three stages, in July, September and November 1989.
Environment	Ballina	Accounts Section, Driver Testing Section, Housing Grants Section, Local Administration- Superannuation, Group Water Schemes.	Three stages, in October, November 1989 and March 1990.
Agriculture and Food	Cavan	Accounts Division, Lands Division, Part of Farm Development Services, Livestock Breeding Section.	Two stages, in November 1989 and February 1990.
Justice	Killarney	Financial Division (including Pensions)	August 1990

(3) The following are the grades and numbers involved for cash location.

Grades	Galway	Sligo	Ballina	Cavan
Principal Officer	2	2	1	1
Assistant Principal	4	5	4	5
Higher Executive Officer	15	11	9	13
Executive Officer	9	38	25	20
Staff Officer	23	18	2	5
Clerical Officer	70	93	9	30
Clerical Assistant	54	140	60	39
Messenger	6	6	6	4
Paperkeeper	2	6	2*	1*
Total	185	319	118	118

* Telephonist

(4) The present numbers willing to transfer could not be ascertained without conducting another trawl of the Civil Service. vice.

(5) The following are the Departments, grades and estimated number of posts required to be filled by promotion to make up the shortfall in volunteers for transfer:

Grades	Defence	Social Welfare	Environment	Agriculture and Food
Principal Officer	—	—	—	—
Assistant Principal	—	1	1	5
Higher Executive Officer	2*	3	6	11
Executive Officer	—	20	18	20
Staff Officer	12	20	6	1
Clerical Officer	1	75	—	17
Paperkeeper	2	4	2	2

* Systems Analyst

The relevant promotion competitions were held directly by the Departments concerned, and the Deputy would need to ask the relevant Minister if he requires the precise number of appointments made, and the parent Departments of promotees.