Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 March 2022
49. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the status of the establishment of regional cycle design offices; the number that have been established; the number of staff that are working in each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13384/22]
View answerMy Department announced funding in January 2021 for up to 248 new posts in local authorities to expand walking and cycling facilities all over the country. This increase in resourcing reflects the €1.8bn of funding committed for walking and cycling over the planned lifetime of the Government. The additional staff will be dedicated to delivering and promoting Active Travel in Ireland and will work across design, communication, community liaison and construction oversight.
The National Transport Authority has been working closely with all the local authorities in the State to deliver the additional resourcing plan for Active Travel. Following discussions with the relevant stakeholders including my Department, the Local Government Management Agency, the County and City Management Association and the local authorities, it was decided that the new Active Travel staff would be located in each local authority rather than co-located in the Regional Cycle Design Offices as had been initially proposed.
As of 1 January 2022 I can confirm that 117 additional staff have been recruited to work in Active Travel in local authorities across the country. In addition, 39 positions are currently ‘pending’, meaning interviews have either been completed or are ongoing, and the positions are expected to be filled shortly. Once these pending positions are filled, the total staff numbers will be 156. Recruitment processes are ongoing and it is expected that all the remaining positions will be filled in 2022.
It is important to note that there is strong competition for staff given the strength of the economy and the fact that COVID-19 has impacted the traditional movement of potential recruits around Europe.
Details of the current staffing levels are set out in the table below.
|
Local Authority |
Staffing Levels 1st Jan 2021 |
Current Staffing Levels 1st Jan 2022 |
Pending Positions offered/interviews conducted) to be recruited in 2022 |
Total 2022 (Current and Pending) |
|
Carlow County Council |
0 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
Cavan County Council |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Clare County Council |
0 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
|
Cork City Council |
1 |
7 |
10 |
17 |
|
Cork County Council |
6 |
11 |
1 |
12 |
|
Donegal County Council |
0 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
Dublin City Council |
20 |
22 |
0 |
22 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
2 |
8 |
2 |
10 |
|
Fingal County Council |
0 |
9 |
0 |
9 |
|
Galway City Council |
9 |
12 |
0 |
12 |
|
Galway County Council |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry County Council |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Kildare County Council |
0 |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Laois County Council |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
0 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
4 |
19 |
2 |
21 |
|
Longford County Council |
0 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
Louth County Council |
0 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
Mayo County Council |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Meath County Council |
4 |
9 |
3 |
12 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
0 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
Offaly County Council |
0 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Sligo County Council |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
4 |
8 |
0 |
8 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
0 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
3 |
8 |
4 |
12 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Wexford County Council |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
4 |
11 |
0 |
11 |
|
Total |
57 |
174 |
39 |
213 |
