Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 July 2004
15 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach the details of the proposal he announced on 7 June 2004 for a second application stream for Dublin-based posts in the Civil Service in the context of decentralisation as it affects his Department; if posts in his Department will be offered as part of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17603/04]
View answer16 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if he has proposals to decentralise any sections of his Department or any public bodies for which his Department has overall responsibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18312/04]
View answer17 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the impact of the decentralisation programme on his Department and the bodies for which his Department is responsible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18991/04]
View answer19 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if the proposed centralisation application system for Dublin based civil servants, announced by him on 7 June 2004 will be available to civil servants in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20261/04]
View answer20 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the number of civil servants in his Department who have applied for posts in other Departments based outside of Dublin as part of the Government’s decentralisation programme; the number of persons in his Department who have applied to transfer to other Departments in Dublin under the proposals for a centralised applications system announced by him on 7 June 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20262/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 15 to 17, inclusive, 19 and 20 together.
There are no proposals to decentralise my Department or any of the agencies or bodies under its aegis. Since 12 May this year, all staff wishing to decentralise must use the central application facility, CAF, regardless as to whether their name is already on any other existing transfer list, departmental or external.
The CAF will remain open throughout the duration of the decentralisation programme. Those who apply prior to 7 September 2004 will be given priority in the case of locations that are over-subscribed. Information gathered through the CAF will be analysed by the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission, which will inform Departments of the numbers of their staff applying for transfer to other organisations. Once I have this information, I will be in a position to respond to requests for information on the numbers of officials from my Department who have applied to relocate.
The report of the decentralisation implementation group, chaired by Mr. Phil Flynn — March 2004 — recommends that a system similar to CAF be developed to facilitate the reassignment of staff remaining in Dublin to other organisations. As information becomes available from the CAF, it will be possible to identify vacancies which will arise in organisations remaining in Dublin, as a result of individuals from those organisations applying for decentralised posts. The Dublin CAF will allow staff being reassigned within Dublin to apply for these vacancies. The modalities of this will be discussed between public service management and staff interests.
