Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2012
525 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the decentralisation of the Equality Authority to Roscrea, County Tipperary; if the review has been completed on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21827/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government decided in October of last year to merge the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission to form a new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC). I established a Working Group to advise me on practical issues in relation to implementation, including powers and functions for the new body, other issues in relation to the necessary legislation and on the best location for the IHREC. The Group has now reported and its Report was published on 20 April 2012.
The Group recommends that the IHREC should have a single office in Dublin in a premises that is accessible to people travelling from outside the capital and to people with disabilities. The Group makes the point that the bulk of staff of the two existing bodies are based (in two separate premises) in Dublin. Dublin therefore is the most cost-effective location, as well as being the most accessible location for people in other regions.
In relation to the Equality Authority's office in Roscrea, the Group concludes that operation of this office imposes an extra administrative cost and burden and that having staff of such a small organisation split between separate premises would undoubtedly make the task of integrating the two existing organisations more difficult. Having considered all the options carefully, and while being conscious of the contribution that staff in Roscrea have made to the Equality Authority, the Working Group recommends that the Roscrea office be closed. The Group acknowledges that there are complex HR issues that need to be managed proactively by management in the new Commission and by the Department over a period of time and that the appropriate transition arrangements should be in place to ensure that the interests of the Roscrea-based staff are protected in the transition.
I am currently examining this and indeed all the recommendations made by the Working Group and will bring my proposals in relation to the various recommendations set out in the Report to Government shortly.
