Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 November 2012
173. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of members of staff in his Department who have relocated from rented offices in Tubbercurry, County Sligo, to Government Buildings in Ballina, County Mayo, since February 2011; the number expected to transfer and the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53173/12]
View answerMy Department’s Community Division transferred from the former Department of Community , Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs in May 2011. The Division was based in two separate buildings in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo.
The Tubbercurry offices were provided as an advance office for the decentralisation of the former Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs to Charlestown and the buildings were leased by the Office of Public Works (OPW).
In February 2012, following the review of decentralisation, a Government decision gave effect to the winding down of a number of decentralisation projects, including my Department’s offices in Tubbercurry and the consolidation of business activities from that location to Ballina.
My Department commenced the process of the voluntary relocation of staff from Tubbercurry to the Department’s office in Ballina by the reassignment and reorganisation of work in the region. The Department has vacated one of the buildings in Tubbercurry following the relocation of 22 staff to the Ballina office.
On foot of the Government decision, it is proposed to transfer the remaining staff from Tubbercurry to Ballina in accordance with the redeployment provisions of the Croke Park Agreement. They will be re-located to Ballina when the OPW has completed necessary renovations to the Ballina office. My Department awaits OPW’s final proposals for these works, including the timetable for their procurement and delivery. It is expected that this work will be completed in the early part of 2013.
