The four agencies under the aegis of my Department included in the Government's decentralisation programme are: National Standards Authority of Ireland — Arklow; the Health and Safety Authority — Thomastown; Enterprise Ireland — Shannon; and FÁS — Birr.
In relation NSAI a total of ten existing employees have applied to transfer to Arklow. This figure represents 8% of the total number of 132 required. However, the total number of applications received from both within the agency and across the Civil Service and public service amounts to 90% of the total complement of staff required by the agency.
With regard to the Health and Safety Authority a total of 11 of its staff have applied to transfer to Thomastown. This figure represents 10% of the total figure of 110 staff required but once again when the total number of applications received is considered it climbs to 46% of the 110 staff required by the agency.
Some 20 existing employees in Enterprise Ireland have indicated their willingness to transfer to Shannon. This represents 7% of the total number of 292 required. However the number of applications received from both within the agency and within the Civil Service and public service amounted to 49 which is 17% of the total staff required.
There have been a total of eight applications from existing FÁS employees for decentralisation to Birr. This figure represents just under 2% of the 383 staff required. However, the total number of applications across the Civil Service and public service brings the figure to 69 or 18% of the total staff required. In light of the recent CAF results and other issues, proposals concerning the sequencing and timing of moves under the decentralisation programme is something that the Decentralisation Implementation Group, chaired by Mr. Phil Flynn, is working on at present. These proposals are due to be brought to the Cabinet sub-committee on decentralisation this autumn for consideration. In the meantime, my Department is committed to managing the decentralisation of its four agencies in a way which minimises disruption to the business community and the general public. Consideration of appropriate risk minimisation strategies, including loss of expertise and corporate knowledge, has been included in my agencies' implementation plans and this will be built upon as the plans are further updated throughout the process.
A structured training programme is being developed by CMOD and agency staff will be encouraged to participate in this programme along with whatever specific training they themselves put in place. Given the careful planning and communication strategies that are in place between my Department and agencies, I am confident that the proposed decentralisation programme is achievable over a reasonable time-frame and will have no long-term adverse effect on level of services to the public.
