Written Answers. - Decentralisation Programme.
Noel Ahern
Question:
93
Mr. N. Ahern
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
if he will give details of the current decentralisation of the staff of his Department to Longford; the number of staff who are moving, together with details of their grades; the number of applications from within his Department which were received for each grade; the number of staff who were transferred from other Government Departments; the number of promotions that took place in order to meet staffing requirements; and the total cost of the move in relation to buildings, transfer and setting up and promotion costs.
As part of the Government's decentralisation programme, 200 of my Department's staff are being relocated to Longford. This move, which is the third decentralisation project undertaken by my Department, provides the opportunity for many staff to return to the Longford area which they left to take up appointments in the Civil Service. I am confident that it will bring a much needed boost to the economy of the town and its hinterland.
The first phase of the move has already taken place with 91 staff transferring on November 15. The balance of the staff will be transferred in the early months of 1994. To date, 98 staff have transferred laterally and there have been 59 appointments by promotion. Arrangements for the appointment of the remainder are currently in hands.
The detailed information requested by the Deputy about the staff and the estimated costs involved are provided in the tabular statements attached.
Table 1
Grades of Staff to be Relocated
|
Grade
|
Number Required*
|
|
Principal
|
1
|
|
Assistant Principal
|
2
|
|
Higher Executive Officer
|
7
|
|
Executive officer
|
19
|
|
Staff Officer
|
9
|
|
Clerical Officer
|
78
|
|
Clerical Assistant
|
54
|
|
Paper-keeper
|
3
|
|
Services Officer
|
4
|
|
Telephonist
|
1
|
|
Total
|
178
|
* The remaining 22 staff, mainly clerical, will be transferred as the additional work scheduled for Longford is devolved.
Table 2
Origin of Staff Transferred Laterally to Date
|
Social Welfare
|
Other Depts./ Offices
|
|
Assistant Principal
|
—
|
1
|
|
Higher Executive Officer
|
2
|
4
|
|
Executive Officer
|
2
|
7
|
|
Staff Officer
|
8
|
—
|
|
Clerical Officer
|
9
|
15
|
|
Clerical Assistant
|
27
|
21
|
|
Paper-keeper
|
—
|
1
|
|
Telephonist
|
—
|
1
|
|
Total
|
48
|
50
|
In addition to these 98 posts, 59 posts have, to date, been filled by promotion.
Table 3
Estimates of Costs of Decentralisation
|
Fitting out building including transport costs
|
£450,000
|
|
Provision of telecommunications lines and equipment
|
£284,000
|
|
Special “ex-gratia” allowances paid to regional staff who come to Dublin for preparatory train ing
|
£150,000
|
|
Travelling and Subsistence
|
£50,000
|
|
*Staff Costs
|
£200,000
|
|
Total
|
£1,134,000
|
* The amount estimated is inclusive of all expenditure arising from appointment of staff for Longford. The main staff costs arise because of the need to provide on-the-job training for new recruits by staff formerly engaged on the work being transferred to Longford and to retain the latter until such time as they can be re-absorbed into the normal staffing structures.
Note: The costs shown above are those borne on the Social Welfare Vote. Costs in relation to the provision of the office are borne on the Vote of the Office of Public Works.
