Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

The FÁS head office relocation, involving approximately 400 staff, to Birr, County Offaly, has a target date of Easter 2009. The negotiations for the purchase of a site in Birr are at an advanced stage.

In addition to the 67 or so first preference CAF applications from across the civil and public service, to date 71 FÁS staff have signalled their agreement to transfer to Birr. However, as Deputy Hogan mentioned, the inclusion of a relocation clause in recruitment and promotion contracts is being opposed by SIPTU, which represents a majority of the staff in head office. This was the subject of a Labour Court hearing, which recommended that the matter be referred for discussions to the appropriate central body. SIPTU balloted its members on this issue and has secured a mandate for industrial action, if they wish to go that far. The Department is, with FÁS, engaging with the Department of Finance to see how the matter can be addressed.

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