Vol. 398 No. 6
10 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Finance, arising out of the Government decision to transfer a section of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners to Limerick, the arrangements which have been made to recruit staff to serve in Limerick; if recruitment will be confined to persons at present employed by the Revenue Commissioners; if he envisages any difficulty in filling the number of posts in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In November 1989 applications were invited from those members of the staff of the office of the Revenue Commissioners who were interested in transferring to the Collector General's Office with a view to relocating in Limerick and a number of officers volunteered. There was a shortfall in the total number required and, as is the practice in the case of all centres included in the decentralisation programme, applications for transfer have been sought from other Departments or offices. This request issued in early April and applications are currently being processed by the personnel branch, Office of the Revenue Commissioners. It is not possible to say at this stage how many will transfer but given that this is the centre receiving the largest section of the Civil Service, a shortfall in the number required is likely. When all applications have been processed steps will be taken to make up any shortfall, as was done in the case of locations included in the earlier stages of the programme.
(Limerick East): May I ask the Minister if there is anything in the recruitment procedure which prevents civil servants employed in the region from being accepted for transfers to Limerick? For example, can people employed in the Civil Service based at Shannon be transferred to Limerick, and be considered as being decentralised?
I do not think moving the few miles from Shannon to Limerick would be considered as decentralisation in the best sense of the word. I am talking about decentralising a section of a Department from Dublin to Limerick. I am aware of what the Deputy is getting at but it would not be considered as part of the operation we are engaged in at present.
(Limerick East): Is it prohibited?
I do not have the regulation under which it may be prohibited, but I will look at the question in detail. I have some knowledge of what the Deputy is referring to. If it is prohibited under a certain regulation I will tell him but it certainly would not be regarded as part of a decentralisation programme. If people were transferred from Shannon to Limerick the vacancies in Shannon would have to be filled from somewhere else.
(Limerick East): I would be grateful if the Minister would look at this issue. I understand that 40——
Thirty.
(Limerick East):——of the 60 people working at Shannon have applied for transfers to Limerick. If the Limerick girls were sent back to Limerick the Clare girls could go to Shannon.
Are the Revenue Commissioners located in Shannon by any chance?
(Limerick East): The Department of the Environment.
They would not be much good in Revenue.
(Limerick East): They are very good; they are working in an ancillary area.
I am calling Question No. 11.
