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Departmental Staff Redeployment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2016

Tuesday, 13 December 2016

Ceisteanna (702)

Marc MacSharry

Ceist:

702. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide all examples of entire units that have been centralised back to Dublin from within his Department; his Department's rationale for such moves; and if Cabinet approval was sought and given in each case. [40475/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Following the decentralisation of my Department to Newbridge, Co. Kildare in November 2010, the Office of Emergency Planning (OEP) was bilocated with offices in both Newbridge and Dublin. The staff however, were located in Newbridge on a day to day basis but due to the operational requirements of the National Emergency Co-Ordination Centre (NECC) the staff moved back to the Dublin Offices in July 2012.

A National Emergency Co-Ordination Centre (NECC) was established in 2007 where Ministers and/or Senior Civil Servants can convene to co-ordinate national responses to a major emergency. The NECC has been used on an ongoing basis since it was established and the NECC is equipped with robust communications systems and support facilities and is managed by the OEP. The NECC is available to all Government Departments and Agencies for use in emergency planning and response. It is the venue for meetings of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, Subgroups on Emergency Planning and the National Steering Group for the implementation of the Framework for Major Emergency Management. The Severe Weather National Co-ordination Group and other similar National Co-ordination Groups for other emergencies meet in the Centre when the need arises. The Centre is also used by a number of Departments and Agencies to hold meetings and briefings. In 2012, in order to support the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning and service the Departments and Agencies who avail of the Centre, the Office of Emergency Planning consolidated to one location in Dublin and is based permanently in the NECC, Agriculture House (2 East), Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Cabinet approval was not sought for this relocation.

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