I am pleased to inform the Deputy that recently there have been a number of developments in relation to the relocation of the head office of the Legal Aid Board to Caherciveen. I understand that the contract for the design and construction of the new headquarters premises has recently been awarded and that the planning permission process is already under way. Both staff and their representative unions are being kept fully informed of all developments in relation to the proposed move to Caherciveen. I understand that management have also advised the unions that any request from them for discussion on matters arising from the transfer will be promptly facilitated.
The Deputy may already be aware the proposed number of staff to be located in Caherciveen is 39 but when account is taken of the staff at dual locations, the total number of staff working from the Caherciveen base will be 42. Once again I must state that I am not prepared to depart from the normal practice of not disclosing the precise numbers and grades of those who do not have an interest in transferring to Caherciveen, lest those who have expressed such a wish be identified. However, I can inform the Deputy that a small number of staff serving in the Legal Aid Board have expressed an interest in transferring to Caherciveen and others have indicated an interest in moving in the event of promotional opportunities becoming available. Staff of the board who do not wish to move to Caherciveen will, of course, be redeployed throughout the Civil Service to take the places of those civil servants who successfully applied for decentralised positions in Caherciveen.
As regards recruitment the Deputy may already be aware that the Legal Aid Board, in accordance with normal decentralisation procedures, requested the Department of Finance to issue an interdepartmental circular seeking applications from persons throughout the Civil Service who would be willing to transfer to the Legal Aid Board for permanent transfer to Caherciveen. Following prior consultation with the relevant staff unions that circular issued in June 2000. The board received a satisfactory response and are currently in the process of recruiting staff who have applied to transfer to Caherciveen. I am informed that transfers to the board have already commenced. In understand that to date four higher executive officers have transferred to the board with a view to moving to Caherciveen. Arrangements have been made for one principal officer, one assistant principal, one further higher executive officer and one executive officer to transfer to the board in the next few weeks. Further transfers will take place over the coming months at all levels. At this early stage in the proceedings it is not possible to give any indication of whether it will be necessary to recruit new staff. I expect that this information will become apparent towards the latter part of the current recruitment process.
I am not in a position to provide details of the total cost of the move to Caherciveen since the acquisition of land and the design and construction contracts in relation to the new premises is being managed by the Office of Public Works.
