Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Minister still claims the relocation programme for public service workers is voluntary yet the reality is quite different in practice. Does the Minister accept the situation for employees of State agencies is radically different from that of civil servants? I emphasise that the situation is radically different because there is transferability between Departments for civil servants but those who opt not to relocate can be transferred if necessary to another Department. Does the Minister accept this is not the case for staff of State agencies?

Does the Minister deplore — I have to put it in as strong a term as possible because I see it no differently — the effort to coerce staff at FÁS headquarters to relocate to Birr by linking the move to promotional prospects? A newspaper was cited earlier. The Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, admitted in The Sunday Times last weekend that workers in State agencies, including FÁS, currently cannot be transferred.

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