asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the severe difficulties being placed on prospective staff for the Killarney offices of his Department who are being required to spend a minimum of eight months in Dublin before being accommodated in Killarney; and if he will announce the date of the commencement of official business at the proposed Killarney offices.
Written Answers. - Departmental (Killarney) Offices Personnel.
101.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to staff of both my own and other Departments who are at present based outside Dublin and who wish to avail themselves of the opportunity now provided to them of transferring to Killarney.
Not all staff serving in the division of my Department which is to be decentralised want to go to Killarney. These must be replaced by staff from other offices in Dublin and elsewhere who are seeking transfer to there. The division performs essential work which must proceed without any interruption and to enable this to be done the release of staff and the "transfer in" of their replacements must take place on a phased basis. It is also essential that all staff transferring to Killarney receive the necessary experience and on the job training in this division in Dublin in advance of the actual transfer. I am aware that these requirements may cause difficulties in the short-term for some of the staff concerned who have, however, the advantage that they are in the process of getting the transfer that they have applied for. The arrangements I have outlined are essential if the decentralisation to Killarney is to be successfully implemented.
As regards the date of the transfer to Killarney, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 124 on 1 November 1989.