Vol. 576 No. 6
162 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the staff or staff representatives in his Department or boards or agencies under the aegis of his Department who had been consulted regarding the proposals on decentralisation set out in the budget statement of the Minister for Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30284/03]
163 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the selection process used to decide on each such location in respect of each location identified in phase one, two and three of the proposed programme of decentralisation set out in the budget statement of the Minister for Finance, in respect of his Department, or boards, or agencies under the aegis of his Department; the other locations that were considered; the criteria used to evaluate different possible locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30299/03]
164 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the functions or sections of his Department, or boards or agencies under the aegis of his Department, it is proposed to decentralise in respect of each location identified in phase one, two and three of the proposed programme of decentralisation set out in the budget statement of the Minister for Finance; the grades and numbers of staff who will be transferred; the estimated total payroll costs of those staff; the size of the office space that will be required for their accommodation; the inquiries which have been made to date regarding availability of office space at each such location; the estimated cost of such office space; the estimated total costs of the decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30314/03]
165 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the legislation required to allow for decentralisation of any section of his Department; the section involved; the legislation which must be amended; the timetable for the publication of the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30344/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 to 165, inclusive, together.
In December, 1999 the Minister for Finance announced in his 2000 budget speech that the Government intended to proceed with a new, more radical programme of decentralisation, involving up to 10,000 civil and public servants. That intention was also signalled in the agreed programme for Government for 2002 to 2007, where it was stated that "We will move forward the progressive decentralisation of Government offices and agencies taking into account the National Spatial Strategy".
Since his original announcement, the Minister for Finance and his Department have had extensive consultations about the issue with interested parties, including other Departments, civil service staff unions and associations and the strategic management initiative, or SMI, implementation group of Secretaries General. The Minister for Finance also received submissions, representations and enquiries from or on behalf of a large number of centres throughout the country seeking to be included in the new programme.
Arising from that process, the Minister for Finance, on 3 December last, sought and received Government approval for the new programme of decentralisation, the details of which he later announced in Dáil Éireann during his 2004 budget speech. Under the programme, the development co-operation directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs will be transferred to Limerick. No new legislation or legislative amendments are required. Details of the directorate's staffing and payroll costs are given in the table below.
In approving the decentralisation programme, the Government decided that it would be put in place over the next three years, overseen by a special Cabinet sub-committee comprising the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Ministers for Finance and Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and that decentralisation would be on a voluntary basis and without the payment of relocation expenses. The Government also approved the establishment of an implementation committee charged with developing a detailed implementation plan and associated communications strategy. The Minister for Finance announced the membership of the committee on 4 December. The committee will be chaired by Mr. Phil Flynn. The other members are Mr. Dermot Quigley, former chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, Ms Jane Williams, managing director, Sia Group, Mr. Fred Devlin, chartered surveyor, Mr. Eddie Sullivan, Secretary General, PSMD, Department of Finance, and Mr. Seán Benton, chairman, Office of Public Works.
|
Grades |
Posts |
|
Minister of State |
1 |
|
Personal Assistant-Secretary to Minister of State |
2 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
1 |
|
Counsellor-Principal Officer |
7 |
|
Principal Development Specialist |
3 |
|
Assistant Principal-First Secretary |
18 |
|
Senior Development Specialist |
9 |
|
Development Specialist |
17 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
13 |
|
Third Secretary |
5 |
|
Executive Officer-Staff Officer |
19 |
|
Clerical Officer |
30 |
|
Services Officer |
3 |
|
Civilian Driver |
2 |
|
Total |
130 |
|
Estimated total annual payroll costs |
€5.6m |
