Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 November 2013
139. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government following the decision to transfer the senior alert unit from Tubbercurry to Dublin, the future plans for the Government buildings at Tubberrcurry, County Sligo; the sections that are currently operating out of this building; the number of staff associated with these sections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49842/13]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) leased buildings in Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, on a temporary basis, for the former Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (CEGA). Those offices were provided as an advance office for the decentralisation of that former Department to Charlestown, Co. Mayo. Following a reconfiguration of Government Departments, the Community Division of CEGA transferred to my Department in May 2011.
Following a review of the Decentralisation Programme conducted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, it was decided to consolidate my Department's business operations in the West at its offices in Ballina, Co Mayo. This process is already well advanced with over half the Tubbercurry staff relocated to Ballina. The remaining Tubbercurry staff are due to relocate when OPW has completed necessary renovations to the Ballina office. OPW has indicated it expects the necessary work in Ballina will be completed during 2014. A number of staff in Tubbercurry have already been facilitated with reassignments to other Government offices in Co Sligo and surrounding areas, and this will continue over the coming months, where possible.
The following table illustrates the business areas where the remaining staff in Tubbercurry are currently employed. These business areas also have staff assigned to them in the Ballina office.
|
Section |
Staff |
|
Alignment of Local Government and Local Development, North/South EU Funding Programmes and Local Government Services |
7 |
|
Rural Development (EU and National) |
5 |
|
Local and Community Development Programme and Tidy Towns |
5 |
|
Internal Audit |
1 |
|
Service Staff |
2 |
|
Total |
20 |
As another Department also occupies the Tubbercurry office, any plans for the continued usage of the building are a matter for the OPW.
