Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 November 2004
131 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the number of jobs to be transferred to towns in County Cavan under the revised decentralisation programme in view of the response from public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30573/04]
View answerUnder the decentralisation programme, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources is decentralising 384 staff to Cavan town. Today I published two reports submitted to me by the decentralisation implementation group. One of these reports contains details of the organisations-locations which, in the group's view, should be the first to relocate. The contents of this report have now been accepted by Government. Both of these reports are available from the Departments website at www.finance.gov.ie.
The relocation of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to Cavan is not among the first moves. The decentralisation implementation group states in its report that it will submit a further report in spring 2005 containing its recommendations on the remaining moves.
132 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Finance the number of jobs to be transferred to towns in County Monaghan under the revised decentralisation programme in view of the response from public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30574/04]
View answerUnder the decentralisation programme, 26 jobs are moving to Monaghan town with the Combat Poverty Agency and 85 to Carrickmacross with the Department of Social and Family Affairs. In the case of the Department of Social and Family Affairs in Carrickmacross, there was a total of 74 Civil Service applicants and a further three public servants up to 7 September 2004. There is a total of 34 applications for transfer to Monaghan made up of six public service and 28 Civil Service applications.
The figures from the Civil Service are much better than those for the State agencies. Unlike the State agencies, the Civil Service has considerable previous experience of decentralisation and a long tradition of inter-departmental transfers. I see no reason in principle State agencies should have to remain in Dublin. Clearly, there are particular issues that arise in dealing with the State agencies. This was always going to be the case. The correct approach is to tease out the issues and develop good long-term solutions in consultation with all of the parties involved. This approach is being adopted by the Flynn group.
