Vol. 576 No. 6
179 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the staff or staff representatives in his Department or boards or agencies under the aegis of his Department, which had been consulted in regard to 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. [30285/03]
No consultations took place with staff or staff representatives in the Department of Education and Science prior to the recent announcement on decentralisation. The existing partnership structures will deal with any implementation related issues which are specific to this Department or its agencies. Any public service-wide issues will be addressed under the auspices of the public service monitoring group provided for in Sustaining Progress.
180 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the selection process used to decide on each such location in respect of each location identified in phased 1, 2 and 3 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 which were used to evaluate different possible locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30300/03]
Since the original announcement in December 1999, the Department of Finance has received submissions, representations and enquiries on behalf of more than 130 centres throughout the country seeking to be included in the new programme of decentralisation. The Government had to take account of, and balance, a wide range of factors in selecting suitable locations for the new decentralised offices: it is not as simple as listing off a set of qualifying criteria against which the merits of the various towns could be measured. However, I refer the Deputy to page B.25 of the summary of 2004 budget measures which describes the main factors taken into account by the Government in reaching its decision.
181 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science 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 phases 1, 2 and 3 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. [30315/03]
All the functions of the Department of Education and Science which now operate from Dublin are included in the programme of decentralisation recently announced for the Department by the Minister for Finance. No decision has been taken as to which functions or sections will be located in Mullingar and Athlone.
The estimated annual payroll cost for the Dublin based staff would be in the order of €14.5 million. Staffing and payroll costs for the bodies under the aegis of the Department which have been included in the programme of decentralisation will be provided directly to the Deputy.
The provision of office accommodation is a matter for the Office of Public Works. Suitable accommodation, within Office of Public Works accommodation norms, will be provided for the staff in question.
182 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science 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. [30345/03]
My understanding is that no legislation is required to allow for decentralisation of my Department.
Rather, a decentralisation implementation committee has been appointed to ensure the implementation of the programme. The committee is to be chaired by Mr. Phil Flynn, former general secretary of IMPACT; 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, public service management division, Department of Finance; and Mr. Seán Benton, chairman of the Office of Public Works.
As chair of the committee, Mr. Flynn will report directly to the special Cabinet sub-committee on decentralisation.
