Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 3

Written Answers. - Legal Aid Service.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

39 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the latest position regarding the proposed move of the headquarters of the Legal Aid Board to Caherciveen, County Kerry; if agreement has been reached with staff concerned; the number of staff, and the grades in each case, who have indicated that they are not willing to transfer to Caherciveen, County Kerry; the number of new staff who will have to be recruited; the estimated total cost of the proposed move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15446/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The most recent information available to me in relation to the proposed move of the headquarters of the Legal Aid Board to Caherciveen is that the contract for the purchase of the site for the new head office building has been signed. I am informed that the Office of Public Works will shortly be issuing tender documentation to a shortlist of contractors to design and build the new premises.

Staff who have indicated that they are not willing to transfer usually do so in expectation that their wishes in that regard will remain in confi dence between them and their respective personnel officers. For that reason I do not propose to depart from the normal practice of not disclosing the precise numbers and grades of those who do not have an interest in transferring, lest those who have expressed such a wish be identified.

However, I can tell the House that a number of Legal Aid Board staff have expressed an interest in transferring to Caherciveen and a further number have signalled an interest in moving in the event of promotional opportunities becoming available.

As regards recruitment the position is that the Legal Aid Board, in accordance with normal decentralisation procedures, requested the Department of Finance to issue an interdepartmental circular seeking applicants from throughout the Civil Service willing to transfer. I understand that this circular is expected to issue very shortly. Both staff and unions are being kept informed of developments.

The proposed number of staff to be located to Cahirciveen is 39 but when account is taken of the staff at dual locations, the total number of staff working from the Cahirciveen base will be 42. At this stage of the process it is not possible to provide the Deputy with details of the number of staff to be recruited or to estimate the costs associated with the provision of a new headquarters premises and ancillary expenses associated with the move.