Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004
232 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his Department has carried out a risk assessment of the decentralisation plans announced by the Minister for Finance on budget day, in so far as they may impact either directly or indirectly on his Department, or an agency or body operating under the aegis of his Department; when he expects to receive the risk assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6005/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decentralisation plans announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget Statement will necessitate the movement of at least 470 of my Department's staff and 185 staff in Teagasc, Bord Bia and Bord Glas. This will require careful planning and organisation to minimise disruption to the work of my Department and of the other agencies. The central decentralisation implementation group is drawing up an overall implementation plan which is to be submitted by March 2004. My Department's own decentralisation implementation group will examine the plan and organise detailed internal implementation arrangements. My Department will also monitor the arrangements being put in place by the agencies.
233 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the locations to which any part of his Department has already been decentralised; the years in which each such decentralisation took place; the total number of staff who are now employed by his Department in each such location; the number of such staff who were relocated from within his Department; the number of such staff who were transferred from other Departments; the number of such staff who were directly recruited; the total number of job changes and people changes which were required to achieve the decentralisation; the cost of the decentralisation to each such location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6020/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraTable 1 shows the existing staff of my Department's decentralised headquarters offices in Johnstown Castle, Castlebar, Cavan and Portlaoise. The table also shows the years in which the original decentralisation to these locations took place. Table 2 shows the previous career history of the staff involved in the most recent decentralisation to Johnstown Castle — other than forest service staff — along the lines requested by the Deputy. My Department cannot provide total numbers of job and people changes to achieve the decentralisation as many of these changes would have occurred in other Departments. My Department has not carried out a detailed examination of the pattern in the other offices listed in table 1 because of the time elapsed and the detailed work involved.
The cost of the building in each case was borne by the Vote of the Office of Public Works. The cost of furniture, carpets, blinds and miscellaneous items were a charge on this Department and the estimated cost for all four offices listed is in the region of €3 million. I should also add that my Department has 1,700 staff based in local offices in different parts of the country.
|
Staff currently in Decentralised HQ Offices: |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1970’s |
1980’s |
Early 1990’s |
Late 1990’s |
|
|
Grade |
Castlebar |
Cavan |
Portlaoise |
Johnstown Castle |
|
Principal Officer |
2 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
|
Senior Inspector |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Sen. Sup. Vet Inspec. |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal |
4 |
6 |
1 |
13 |
|
Insp. Gr 1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Insp. Gr 2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Vet. Inspec |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Professional Accountant |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Admin. Officer |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Agricultural Inspector |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
Assistant Ag. Inspector |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Area Superintendent |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
HEO |
15 |
18 |
7 |
36 |
|
HEO Analyst |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Super. Ag. Officer |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
EO |
18 |
23 |
20 |
64 |
|
EO Analyst |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
SO |
11 |
10 |
19 |
14 |
|
CO |
41 |
100 |
103 |
144 |
|
Service Officers |
4 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
|
Cleaner |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Visually Impaired Telephonist |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
General Operative |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Total |
100 |
162 |
156 |
300 |
|
Staff involved in Decentralisation to Johnstown Castle in 1998: |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grade |
Relocated |
Transferred in |
Recruited |
Grade Totals |
|
Agricultural Inspectors |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
Administration Officers |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Area Superintendent |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Assistant Agric. Inspectors |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
Assistant Principal |
2 |
12 |
0 |
14 |
|
Cleaner |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Clerical Officers |
12 |
17 |
106 |
135 |
|
Executive Officers |
14 |
42 |
12 |
68 |
|
EO Analysts |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Higher Executive Officers |
4 |
31 |
0 |
35 |
|
HEO Systems Analysts |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Principals |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Senior Inspectors |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Senior Superintendent Vet Insp. |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Service Officers |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
Staff Officers |
4 |
11 |
0 |
15 |
|
Supervisory Agric Officers |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
Vet Inspectors |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Totals |
51 |
119 |
123 |
293 |
234 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of staff within his Department who have to date volunteered for the programme of decentralisation announced by the Minister for Finance on budget day; the grades of the staff concerned; the locations for which they have volunteered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6035/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is on the following table.
|
Grades |
Dublin Interest |
Other County Interest |
Total |
Dublin Interest |
Other County Interest |
Cork Interest |
Total |
|
CO |
14 |
22 |
36 |
2 |
1 |
25 |
28 |
|
SO |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
||
|
EO |
17 |
8 |
25 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
9 |
|
HEO |
3 |
5 |
8 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
AP |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
DS |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||
|
AI |
2 |
9 |
11 |
2 |
6 |
1 |
9 |
|
AAI |
3 |
3 |
|||||
|
TAO |
3 |
4 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
|
|
SAO |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|||
|
VI |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
|
Serological Asst. |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Accountant |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Total |
42 |
58 |
100 |
8 |
16 |
43 |
67 |
