Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2004
148 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the risk analysis and the cost-benefit analysis that he carried out or proposes to carry out in respect of decentralisation as it affects his Department. [19084/04]
View answerIn accordance with the timetable set out in the report of the working group on the accountability of secretaries general and accounting officers, the Mullarkey report, my Department is putting in place a risk management programme. As the Mullarkey report envisaged, the risk management programme will identify and address strategic, operational, financial and reputational risks and establish procedures for mitigating those risks.
Under the Government's recently announced decentralisation programme, my Department's development co-operation directorate shall decentralise to Limerick. Work on the establishment of a formal risk management system for the directorate's overseas aid programme commenced in 2002. Following a pilot programme in Zambia, a series of risk management workshops was held in the programme country missions and risk registers were developed. Risk reporting is now integrated into the regular aid mission reporting system. The assessment and management of risk has become a key element of programme approval procedures. The roll-out of formal risk management throughout the DCD at headquarters is under way and is expected to be completed by the end of 2004.
The Department plans to hold a further workshop in September to deal specifically with the risks associated with decentralisation. It will take account of the wider implications of decentralisation for the Department in general as well as for DCD. The aim will be to identify key risks, identify and assess the adequacy of existing controls, consider how these controls can be improved and identify those responsible for putting controls in place. Some preliminary risk analysis has already been undertaken in the context of preparation of my Department's decentralisation implementation plan. Further work will be done in advance of the workshop. In developing and putting into effect our implementation plan, we will seek to maximise the potential benefits accruing to the Department and its staff while minimising any additional costs that may arise.
149 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the average annual increase in salary costs, overtime and travel to, from and in the decentralised offices in the three years following decentralisation compared to these costs for those business units in the three years preceding decentralisation, in respect of the last decentralisation by his Department. [19099/04]
View answer150 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of persons decentralised and the full duration of the project, in respect of the last decentralisation by his Department; the number of internal and external transfers which were required to obtain the requisite number of persons decentralising; the amount of time necessary to train decentralising persons and the percentage and duration of overlapping staff that was required; and the additional costs for overtime and travel and subsistence incurred. [19114/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 150 together.
The Department of Foreign Affairs established a passport sub-office in Cork city in 1987. Two of the original three posts were filled from within the Department. The third officer came from another Department. The three officers were given appropriate training in the passport office in Dublin before taking up duty in Cork. The staffing complement of the office was increased in the intervening years as a consequence of its upgrade to full passport issuing status with responsibility for processing all applications from the Munster area. This was done in line with significant annual increases in passport demand since 1987. Its current staff complement is 56 posts.
The Office of Public Works is responsible for the provision of office accommodation. No significant costs arose for my Department in connection with the establishment of the Cork office. It was established as a new business unit. Therefore, the type of cost comparisons sought by the Deputy cannot be made.
