Departmental Staff Redeployment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 October 2012

Thursday, 25 October 2012

Questions (173, 174, 175)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

173. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff members of his Department that have been awarded internal promotions and or additional acting up or temporary allowances to perform more senior roles since 27 March 2009; the details of the grades involved; the pre-promotion temporary acting and post promotion temporaryacting pay scales; the total increase in salary payments to each staff member involved; the duration of assignments; the area to which each person was assigned; the business reasons supporting any such decision; the details of sanction received from the Department of Finance and or Public Expenditure and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47168/12]

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

174. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff members from his Department that have been temporarily and or permanently redeployed to other Government Departments or agencies since 27 March 2009; the details of the grades and pay scales of same; the total amount of savings achieved in salary payments in respect of the persons concerned; the duration of assignments; the business reasons supporting the redeployment of staff; the details of sanction received from the Department of Finance and or Public Expenditure and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47184/12]

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

175. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff members that have been temporarily and or permanently redeployed to his Department from other Government Departments or agencies since 27 March 2009; the details of the grades and pay scales involved; the total increase in salary payments for his Department in respect of the persons concerned; the duration of assignments; the area to which each person was assigned; the business reasons supporting the redeployment of staff; the details of sanction received from the Department of Finance and or Public Expenditure and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47199/12]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 175, inclusive, together.

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort that could not be justified where there are other significant demands on resources. I have, however, set out information below on how my Department has managed its staff numbers since the introduction of the Moratorium on recruitment and promotion which may be of assistance to the Deputy.

While continuing to deliver critical services, a wide range of initiatives have been taken to reduce staff numbers including the utilisation of all available exit mechanisms (e.g. retirements, career breaks, shorter working year and redeployment) as well as significant re-organisation of functions within the Department, achievement of considerable flexibilities at unit level, pro-active management of flexibilities around work sharing and other schemes and non-replacement of all but the most vital of staff who vacate posts. On that basis my Department has shed some 16% of its serving staff in the period from 2008 to end Q3 2012.

Since the introduction of the Moratorium internal promotions, either temporary or permanent, have only arisen in limited circumstances. Such circumstances would have included, limited filling of vital vacant posts, limited replacement of staff availing of the Shorter Working Year Scheme and providing cover to posts where staff have been assigned to EU Presidency duties. I am advised that the necessary sanctions from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform were obtained in all cases.