Decentralisation Programme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2008

Wednesday, 17 December 2008

Ceisteanna (248)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

282 Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Transport the number of civil servants and other public servants, who have relocated to locations outside of Dublin under the Government’s decentralisation programme; the estimated number of each category who will have relocated by the end of 2009; the breakdown of each set of figures in terms of those who are relocating from Dublin and relocating from elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47008/08]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey)

10 posts from the Department's Road Haulage function and 40 Road Safety Authority Posts were decentralised to Loughrea and the move was completed in July 2007. Decentralisation of an additional 62 Road Safety Authority posts (which were not part of the original Government decision) to Ballina was also achieved.

While Road Safety Authority posts are categorised as public service posts, civil servants transferring from my Department to the RSA retained their Civil Service status for 3 years from Vesting Day, 13th September, 2006. This involved 6 staff transferred to Loughrea and 210 staff transferred to Ballina.

Following the Government decision to defer a number of decentralisation projects to 2011, no further moves are planned for 2009. 9 of the 50 posts moved to Loughrea were filled by CAF applicants from Dublin with the remainder filled by CAF applicants from other locations. Of the Ballina posts, 8 were filled by CAF applicants from Dublin with 19 filled by CAF applicants from other locations.