Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2004
118 Ms Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her proposals for the relocation of Enterprise Ireland staff; the timescale proposed; and the implications for existing jobs in Dublin. [15970/04]
View answerIn his budget speech, the Minister for Finance announced the decision of the Government to decentralise the headquarters of Enterprise Ireland, including 300 of the agency's Dublin based staff, to Shannon.
Recently, Enterprise Ireland has identified the posts to be transferred and these have now been advertised as part of the central applications facility, CAF. Posts in the following areas have been scheduled for transfer: CEO, four executive directors and administrative staff; corporate services; food and consumer retail markets, including technology, human resource development staff and associated high potential start up unit; international sales and partnering, core unit; client knowledge services; group promotion/marketing; management development, core unit; mentoring; regions and entrepreneurship.
It is too early in the process to comment definitively on what effect decentralisation will have for existing jobs in Dublin. The level of uptake by Enterprise Ireland staff to relocate to Shannon and the maintenance of a continued significant presence by Enterprise Ireland in Dublin will impact on any consideration in this regard. Furthermore, the wider general discussions at national level, especially those concerning the possibility of transfers between the public service and the Civil Service may influence the issue. Any consideration will also be conducted in a manner which takes full account of the voluntary nature of the decentralisation process.
