Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
307 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the position in regard to the request for transfer to the State Laboratory from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if this request is likely to be affected by decentralisation proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22256/04]
View answerThe person in question in the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism has not submitted a request for transfer to the State Laboratory and is therefore not on a transfer list.
I understand, however, that she has recently competed in a competition for post of clerical officer in the State Laboratory and has been placed on a panel of suitable candidates to fill any future vacancies arising up to end December 2005.
For their new administrative staff the State Laboratory operates a policy of secondment, usually for three years. Successful candidates are offered a position in strict accordance with the order of merit in which candidates are placed on the panel. The person can contact the human resources section in the State Laboratory for an update on the panel situation.
In line with the Government's policy on decentralisation it is planned that the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism, which is currently based in Dublin, will be decentralised to Killarney, County Kerry. The decision to move the State Laboratory from Abbotstown to Backweston on the Celbridge Road was taken before the Government's decentralisation programme was announced. This move, which is at an advanced stage, does not form part of the decentralisation programme and will have no impact on appointments to be made from the panel.
