Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
623 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if a survey of staff to determine interest in participating in the decentralisation programme has been undertaken in his Department; when it will be completed; and if the results will be published or otherwise made available to Deputies. [12085/04]
View answerThe Department has a staff complement of 690 posts. A total of 526 staff replied to a canvass seeking expressions of interest in decentralising as part of the public service decentralisation programme and relocation to agencies arising from the health reform programme — locations unknown. Of the 526 staff who replied, only 97 expressed an interest in decentralising outside Dublin as part of the decentralisation programme or with agencies arising from the health reform programme. A further 268 staff confirmed their intention of remaining in Dublin. The breakdown of the remaining 161 responses is as follows; 87 staff may be interested in relocating from the Department to agencies arising from the health reform programme, if located in Dublin; 14 staff expressed an interest in relocating to agencies arising from the health reform programme only; three professional or technical staff members expressed a need for additional information on the health reform programme, including location and assignment of functions, before they could commit to a decision; 28 staff expressed interest in all options, including remaining in Dublin, subject to further information; 21 staff expressed an interest in relocating within the Civil Service in Dublin and eight staff currently based in our Roscommon office, GRO, expressed an interest in remaining there.
My reply to a Parliamentary Question on 24 March provided a tabular breakdown of staff applications by grade and geographic location in the context of the public service decentralisation programme.
