Decentralisation Programme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004

Tuesday, 24 February 2004

Questions (216, 217)

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

311 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the locations to which any part of his Department has already been decentralised; the years in which each such decentralisation took place; the total number of staff who are now employed by his Department in each such location; the number of such staff who were relocated from within his Department; the number of such staff who were transferred from other Departments; the number of such staff who were directly recruited; the total number of job changes and people changes which were required to achieve the decentralisation; the cost of the decentralisation to each such location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6023/04]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

My Department has already undergone three phases of decentralisation, to Athlone in 1977 and 1991 and to Tullamore in 1995. There are currently 335 and 195 staff working in my Department's offices in Athlone and Tullamore, respectively, with a further 175 posts in the State Examinations Commission in Athlone.

For each of the phases of decentralisation to Athlone and Tullamore, applications were initially invited from staff already working in the Department, then from those working in the wider Civil Service. Where a shortfall in staff arose, staff were recruited to these vacancies. Since each phase of decentralisation, there has been significant turnover of staff due, for example, to promotions, resignations and retirements. The resultant vacancies have been filled by internal inter-departmental promotion competitions or by lateral transfer.

Details of the costings have been requested from the Office of Public Works and I will arrange for these to be forwarded to the Deputy, as soon as they become available.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

312 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of staff within his Department who have to date volunteered for the programme of decentralisation announced by the Minister for Finance on budget day; the grades of the staff concerned; the locations for which they have volunteered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6038/04]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The decentralisation implementation committee in the Department of Finance, is overseeing the decentralisation programme. This committee is currently preparing an implementation plan that will address the orderly and timely reassignment of staff between departments to give effect to the relocations.

Until this plan is in place, vacancies for new decentralised locations are not being advertised, either within my Department or within any other Department and we are not in a position to accept any volunteers for the different locations.