There has been no definitive survey undertaken to establish the numbers and grades of the staff at Irish Prison Service headquarters who wish to transfer to Longford. Soundings taken last year indicated a relatively low level of interest at that time. It is intended, in conjunction with the issue of the central application facility, CAF, by the Civil Service Commission, to conduct a survey in which headquarters staff will be asked to indicate definitively whether or not they wish to remain with the Irish Prison Service.
Staff who do not wish to transfer to Longford or another decentralised office will be reassigned to other positions in the Civil Service in accordance with any agreement made with the staff associations in this regard. While, to date, only a small number of staff have formally indicated their intention to transfer to the new headquarters in Longford, there are indications that the numbers interested in a possible transfer to Longford is increasing. The Deputy may be interested to know that, at present, the Irish Prison Service has received unsolicited applications from 72 persons in other Civil Service bodies who wish to transfer to Longford.
