Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 November 2008
382 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the current and capital expenditure which has been incurred to date in respect of the decentralisation projects which have been deferred until a further review occurs in 2011. [38891/08]
View answerAs announced in the Budget on 14 October 2008, decentralisation projects for the following agencies under the aegis of my Department have been deferred pending a review in 2011: Higher Education Authority (HEA) 64 posts for Athlone; National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) 18 posts for Edenderry; Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) 34 posts for Edenderry; Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) 44 posts for Edenderry; National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) 25 posts for Portarlington; National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) 14 posts for Portarlington.
The expenditure incurred by the bodies to date in respect of these projects, is as follows:
NQAI: €12,756;
NCCA: €40,133.24.
The Deputy should note that to date 12 posts have moved with the NCCA to Portlaoise in advance of the proposed move to Portarlington.
383 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of persons who have been relocated to each of the decentralised locations established by units or agencies under his Department; the floor areas and occupancy capacity of each of the facilities concerned; and the date by which it is intended to complete the transfer of remaining staff. [38906/08]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that at this stage my Department has completed the process of decentralising all sections due to relocate to Athlone, with some 88 posts now relocated. The new building in Athlone accommodates both decentralised staff plus approximately 100 Department of Education and Science personnel who had been in temporary accommodation on the Athlone campus. The floor area is 4,665 square metres and has capacity for 210 staff.
The Mullingar element of the decentralisation of my Department's Headquarters, which involves approximately 300 posts, will take place when new permanent accommodation is ready for occupation. Full planning permission for this development was received in July 2008 and the floor area as per planning application is 9,068 square metres. In June 2008, my Department utilised existing available accommodation in its Regional Office in Mullingar, to decentralise seven posts from Dublin to that location.
Following the Government's review of the decentralisation programme, a number of agencies under the aegis of this Department have been included among a number of projects being deferred pending a review in 2011 in light of budgetary developments. To date, 12 posts have moved with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to Portlaoise in advance of the proposed move to Portarlington.
384 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of staff moves that have been necessitated by the decentralisation programme in units or agencies in his Department distinguishing the moves at managerial or technical level. [38921/08]
View answerTo date, some 191 staff have transferred in under the Central Applications Facility (CAF) or have been appointed to this Department with a commitment to decentralise. The majority of these officers were/are initially assigned to posts in Dublin with a small number assigned directly to backfill vacancies due to decentralisation, arising in my Department's offices in Athlone, Tullamore or network of Regional Offices. At Assistant Principal level and above, there have been 54 assignments/reassignments to date. This includes both incoming staff and reassignment of staff already employed by the Department prior to the announcement of the decentralisation programme. As regards professional/technical grades there have been nine staff assigned to decentralising posts.
To date some 150 staff have left the Department of Education and Science through the Central Applications Facility (CAF) or Dublin Arrangements, as a result of the decentralisation programme. This includes 26 staff at managerial level (Assistant Principal and above).
385 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the facilities in Dublin which units or agencies under his Department, plan to vacate as a result of the decentralisation programme; the floor areas involved; and when it is planned that they will be realised. [38936/08]
View answerIt is planned to decentralise the headquarters of the Department currently based in Marlborough Street to Mullingar when new permanent accommodation is ready for occupation. The floor area of the proposed new office in Mullingar, as per the planning application, is 9,068 square metres. Following the Government's review of the decentralisation programme, a number of agencies under the aegis of my Department have been included among a number of projects being deferred pending a review in 2011 in light of budgetary developments.
