Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 3

Written Answers. - Decentralisation Programme.

Ivan Yates

Question:

146 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which matters are progressing in relation to the recruitment and transfer of staff to the various units of his Department being assigned to the new Department buildings at Johnstown Castle, County Wexford; if the current Government has reaffirmed the staff quota allocated for this decentralisation; the units which are to transfer and the likely numbers from his Department who will avail of the transfer; the subsequent numbers which will be sought from other Departments to similarly transfer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17947/97]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The initial Government decision was to decentralise 350 civil servants and no changes have been made to that decision.

Circulars were issued to all staff in my Department seeking volunteers to transfer in their current grade and to date 66 applications have been received. In view of the shortfall in numbers my Department will soon be asking the Department of Finance to issue a service wide Circular inviting applications from all Government Departments.

The functional areas to be decentralised are intervention operations, agricultural structures and forestry together with support staff to undertake personnel, information technology, accommodation and other service functions appropriate to a large decentralised unit.

Consequent to the Transfer of Functions Order on 12 July 1997 the Minister for Marine and Natural Resources will now be responsible for the decentralisation of staff relating to forestry operations.