Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004
525 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her 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 her Department, or an agency or body operating under the aegis of her Department; when she expects to receive the risk assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6016/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra527 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of staff within her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [6046/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 525 and 527 together.
Under the Government decentralisation programme announced recently by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, all sections of my Department currently located in Dublin will move to the following towns:
|
Town |
Posts |
|
Drogheda |
300 |
|
Buncrana |
120 |
|
Donegal |
230 |
|
Carrick-on-Shannon |
225 |
|
Sligo |
100 |
The Department's information services division will also be relocated, though the location has yet to be determined.
In addition, the Combat Poverty Agency and Comhairle, agencies under the aegis of my Department, will be relocated to Monaghan and Carrickmacross respectively.
A project management structure has been established within my Department to manage the decentralisation programme. The structure will support the two phases of the programme i.e. the development of an overall departmental strategy and the development and implementation of plans for decentralising individual sections.
In developing the programme my Department will identify the risks associated with the decentralisation programme under various headings and will incorporate approaches to address these in the plans. In addition each business area will develop a project plan, part of which will involve a risk assessment and proposals to manage each category of risk.
My Department has carried out a preliminary survey to establish levels of initial staff interest in transferring to decentralised locations. A total of 3,046 responses were received. Preliminary results are as set out in the attached chart at appendix A.
While the survey provides a useful initial indication of staff preferences, it is recognised that the decisions which people will make are likely to change as the implementation of the programme proceeds.
To date, staff surveys have not been carried out in the Combat Poverty Agency or in Comhairle.
|
Location |
|
|
Carrick-on-Shannon |
149 |
|
Drogheda |
120 |
|
Donegal Town |
51 |
|
Sligo |
24 |
|
Buncrana |
15 |
|
Carrickmacross (Comhairle) |
16 |
|
Monaghan (Combat Poverty Agency) |
4 |
|
Another Department, Office or Agency’s Location |
586 |
|
Grade |
New DSFA Location |
Other Dept/Office |
|
Senior Management |
6 |
3 |
|
Assistant Principal |
14 |
12 |
|
Higher Executive Officer/Administrative Officer |
39 |
68 |
|
Executive Officer |
72 |
104 |
|
Staff Officer |
29 |
92 |
|
Clerical Officer |
218 |
304 |
|
Services Officer |
0 |
3 |
|
Medical Assessor |
1 |
0 |
526 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the locations to which any part of her Department has already been decentralised; the years in which each such decentralisation took place; the total number of staff who are now employed by her Department in each such location; the number of such staff who were relocated from within her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [6031/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently has decentralised offices in Sligo, Letterkenny, Longford, Waterford and Dundalk. Some 319 staff responsible for the delivery of pension services were relocated from Dublin to Sligo in 1989. The number of staff serving in this office has now risen to 552 due to scheme changes and additional workload over the period. Of the original 319 staff involved, 31.6% were relocated from other areas of this department, 32.3% were redeployed from other Departments and 36.1% were recruited directly.
In 1990-91 my Department decentralised its child benefit and treatment benefit office to Letterkenny. At that time a total of 176 staff were relocated. Due to increased claim loads the number of serving staff has risen to 190. Of the original 176 staff, 36.3% were relocated from within the Department, 23.9% were redeployed from other Departments and 39.8% were recruited directly.
In 1993-94 my Department decentralised long-term illness schemes and other miscellaneous services to Longford. At that time a total of 178 staff were relocated. With an increased claim load there are currently 283 staff serving in this office. Of the original 178 staff who initially moved to this location, 52% were relocated from within the Department, 41% were redeployed from other Departments and 7% were recruited directly.
In 1995 my Department decentralised part of its client data services to Waterford. At that time a total of 28 staff were relocated. Of these 68% were relocated from within the Department and 32% were redeployed from other Departments.
In 2002 my Department decentralised its accounts branch to Dundalk. A total of 95 staff was relocated. Of these, 38% were relocated from within the Department, 47% were redeployed from other Departments and 15% were recruited directly.
The number of job and people changes required to achieve decentralisation was significant in respect of each location. At a minimum, the filling of posts required two such changes and in some instances a higher number of changes were required.
The additional costs to the Department arising in the context of decentralisation consists mainly of building fit-out costs, telecommunication equipment and staff related costs including training, overtime and travel and subsistence. The approximate total costs in the case of the locations above were as follows:
|
Location |
Cost |
|
(million) |
|
|
Sligo |
£2.14 |
|
Letterkenny |
£1.13 |
|
Longford |
£1.13 |
|
Waterford |
£0.04 |
|
Dundalk |
€1.73 |
