The most recent decentralisation programme undertaken by my Department was the relocation of the accounts branch to Dundalk in 2002. A total of 95 posts were relocated to Dundalk under the programme. The only post filled by promotion was that of principal officer.
The remaining posts were filled by the lateral transfer of serving civil servants or by direct recruitment. Some 36 posts were filled by the relocation of staff from within the Department, 44 posts were filled by the redeployment of staff from other Departments and 14 staff were recruited directly for Dundalk.
It is not possible to indicate the number of consequential staff moves necessary in other Departments. However, in my Department, of the 36 staff who relocated to Dundalk, five staff were already serving in accounts branch and, accordingly, there were no consequential vacancies, and six people moved from other areas of the Department and follow-on moves were required.
The remaining 25 were clerical staff recruited for the Dublin offices of the Department during 2001 and 2002 who were interested in relocating to Dundalk. They were assigned directly to the accounts branch in anticipation of the move.
In addition, it is estimated that it was necessary to redeploy some 70 staff from accounts branch to other areas of the Department as vacancies arose during 2001 and 2002.