Decentralisation Programme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2007

Tuesday, 20 March 2007

Questions (478)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

547 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of civil servants in his Department who have transferred to offices outside Dublin under the decentralisation programme to date; the percentage of these who had a previous transfer within a two year period of the decentralisation transfer; the number of these people who transferred from a non-Dublin office to a Dublin office in the initial transfer; the average time spent in the Dublin office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10531/07]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs will decentralise to Limerick. This is scheduled to take place during the second half of 2007 and will involve the relocation to Limerick of 124 posts. In addition, and in order to help effect the smoothest possible transfer to Limerick, plans are in train for an advance party move, involving approximately 50 staff members, to take place in May this year.

Overall, personnel have at present either been assigned to, or identified for, some 90 posts or approximately 73% of the 124 posts scheduled to be decentralised.

Sixteen Dublin based-officers of this Department have transferred to other Departments with a view to moving to a provincial location under the Decentralisation Programme. Nine of these officers initially transferred to Dublin- based offices of the respective decentralising Departments and 7 transferred directly to a provincial location. None of these sixteen officers had a previous transfer within a two year period of their decentralisation transfer.