Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 26 Jan 1994

Vol. 437 No. 6

Written Answers. - Vehicle Registration Unit Staff.

Michael Noonan

Ceist:

307 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that staff attached to the Vehicle Registration Unit at Shannon airport are not being considered eligible for transfer to the Office of the Revenue Commissioners at Limerick City unless they can identify a suitable replacement from the public service to carry out their duties at Shannon; if this practice applies to applications for transfer throughout the service as a whole; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith)

There has been a considerable turnover of staff in the Vehicle Registration Unit in Shannon arising from the decentralisation programme and transfers arranged in accordance with procedures agreed generally with staff representative bodies. Applications for transfer are considered having regard to all relevant factors including the availability of replacement staff, the specialist training requirements of the Unit and the work situation, in particular the necessity to maintain an up-to-date National Vehicle File for law enforcement and revenue collection purposes.