Vol. 572 No. 3
251 Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position with regard to his Department's proposal to open an office in Balbriggan, County Dublin, in the near future; the opportunities there may be for a person (details supplied) in County Meath to transfer to such an office; if there are likely to be relevant vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22977/03]
As part of the upgrading and modernisation of the passport service, the Passport Office is relocating its primary production and postal checking sections to new premises in Balbriggan. It is expected that approximately 120 staff will be employed there and that the office will become fully operational by autumn 2004. Staff will move to Balbriggan on a phased basis during next year.
Vacancies in the Balbriggan office will be filled, in the first instance, by internal redeployment of Department of Foreign Affairs staff. However, the number of departmental staff who will transfer to Balbriggan is expected to fall short of the total number required to operate the new office. The shortfall in numbers will be made up by the import of staff from other Departments. A circular will be issued on this subject by the Department of Finance in due course to the personnel sections of all Departments and offices. The circular will set out the grades in which vacancies will arise in Balbriggan and the conditions and timeframe under which applications may be made.
The person to whom the Deputy refers should make contact with the personnel officer in his own Department in the first instance to indicate his interest in being considered for one of these vacancies if the opportunity should arise.
