asked the Minister for the Environment if his Department are participating in the lateral mobility scheme allowing staff to move at the same level both (a) between Departments of State and (b) to and from outside bodies; if not, the reason; and, if so, the number of his staff who have so far availed themselves of the scheme to move to and from (a) other Departments and (b) outside bodies.
Written Answers. - Lateral Mobility Scheme.
568.
My Department are participating in the scheme of lateral mobility. However, as suitable assignments in other Departments could not so far be arranged, staff members have not yet availed of the facility. As regards bodies other than Departments, priority was given to introducing lateral mobility between the Department and local authorities, but it has not been possible to obtain the agreement of the staff panel of the local authority conciliation and arbitration scheme.