Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Dec 1990

Vol. 403 No. 10

Written Answers. - Transfer of Land Commission Inspectors.

John Connor

Question:

25 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the transfer of 23 Land Commission inspectors from various offices countrywide to Department offices in Dublin without prior consultation; his views on whether this transfer will improve unacceptable levels of inconvenience, hardship and disturbance on these officers and their families; and if he will explore with the union representatives, the possibility of redeploying the inspectors on other duties operated from their present locations.

Edward Nealon

Question:

49 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that approximately 16 Land Commission officers located in various provincial centres, have got two weeks notice to report for work in Dublin on 17 December, 1990; that this will involve a major cost for most of the officers as they are mostly married men who will have to sell their established houses in the provinces and purchase new houses at much greater prices in the Dublin area; that no allowances are being made for these financial problems being created; and if he will have the matter re-examined with a view to having the officers deployed in their own areas or in some provincial areas, having regard to the present policy of the Government of the decentralisation of the Civil Service and the large numbers of civil servants who are now being transferred out of Dublin to the provinces.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. O'Kennedy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 49 together.

As a result of the Government decision in 1984 to phase out the activities of the Land Commission, there are 24 inspectors who have not been fully occupied on lands work for some considerable time. At the same time there are staff shortages on the agricultural inspectorate side of the Department. Given the similar professional qualifications and experience of the two inspectorate groups, I am satisfied that the Land Commission inspectors should be assigned to duties on the agricultural side. Eleven of the 24 inspectors are being assigned to headquarters outside Dublin, but the remainder must be assigned to posts in Dublin.

The proposals to transfer Land Commission inspectors were discussed at several meetings between officials of my Department and the inspectors' union throughout 1990. During these meetings the union representatives were informed that the only locations at which there is work available are those already offered. The Department had sought to minimise the inconvenience caused by seeking to locate the officers concerned near their current locations but this was not possible in all cases. I should emphasise that removal expenses covering legal fees and other charges arising from moving house will be repaid to the officers concerned.

The discussions on this subject have gone on for a long time now and it is essential to proceed with the filling of vacancies on the agricultural inspectorate side. However, I have carefully considered all aspects of the case and I have now decided to postpone the transfers of those officers who will have to move house until the middle of February 1991.