Vol. 547 No. 1
865 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) is on the transfer panel to relocate to County Sligo; if he will expedite this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2648/02]
In accordance with formal procedures agreed between the Civil and Public Service Union, which represents clerical officers, and the Department of Finance, the names of officers applying for transfer to a provincial location are entered on my Department's central transfer lists in the order in which they are received. Vacancies, fillable by transfer, which arise in provincial locations are then filled by reference to these lists.
The staff member named by the Deputy accepted an offer of appointment, made by the Office of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners, for a permanent position in the Dublin offices of my Department. She was recruited specifically for Dublin and her offer of appointment outlined that she was required to serve in Dublin for a minimum period of one year before she would be considered for transfer. This is in line with arrangements agreed centrally with the Civil and Public Service Union.
The staff member accepted the offer of appointment on this basis and took up her appointment in Dublin on 3 December 2001. She applied for transfer to Sligo on 10 December 2001 and her name is noted on the central transfer list for Sligo since that date. In addition, there are a significant number of people ahead of this person on the Sligo transfer list. In accordance with the agreed arrangements, these civil servants would have to be considered for transfer first in the event of a vacancy, fillable by transfer, arising in the Sligo office of this Department. The second person referred to by the Deputy has been offered lateral transfer as clerical officer to my Department's offices in Dublin and a commencement date in Dublin has been arranged.
