Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 January 2015
232. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the agencies or sections from his Department that were decentralised during the period 1997 to 2011; and the travel costs and expenses incurred by decentralised personnel travelling to their base Department in that period. [1032/15]
View answerIn the period in question my Department was involved in the decentralisation of certain functions to a variety of locations as outlined below:
Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and its Offices
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Decentralisation |
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Dublin |
Head Office |
- |
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Kilkenny |
Patents Office. |
Decentralised from Dublin to Kilkenny in 1998. |
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Companies Registration Office. |
Decentralised from Dublin to Carlow in stages over the period 2007 to 2010. |
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Carlow |
National Employment Rights Authority (NERA). |
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Cork |
NERA. |
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Shannon |
NERA. |
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Sligo |
NERA. |
NERA was established in 2007, with headquarters in Carlow and regional offices located in Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Sligo. |
The detailed level of information sought by the Deputy in relation to travel costs associated solely with travel incurred by decentralised personnel travelling to their base Department/Office/Agency in that period is not immediately available as travel costs associated are not recorded in a manner that immediately distinguishes between different categories of business travel. It would require a very significant redirection of Departmental resources to seek to provide dis-aggregated travel data specific only to the category of journey requested.
It should be noted that inspectors for NERA are regionally based and hearings for the Employment Appeals Tribunal are similarly organised. To identify travel or expenses solely incurred on the basis sought would be extremely difficult. I can, however, advise the Deputy that travel and subsistence payments are made in line with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform instructions and travel is only authorised having due regard to value for money. Travel costs are generally paid at the applicable return train fare rates save in exceptional circumstances where an officer is required to transport a significant level of files or equipment to/from Dublin and mileage would accrue in respect of the use by the officer of his/her car. Finally, Video Conferencing facilities are available in all decentralised offices and in Dublin, and these facilities are regularly used to facilitate staff attending meetings without the need to travel. Likewise, where appropriate, Video Conferencing is also regularly used to conduct business between the Department and our colleagues in the Permanent Representation in Brussels.
I have asked all Agencies under the aegis of my Department to advise me of their response, and I will communicate that information to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
