Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

The Taoiseach told us in February of this year that his Department would lose approximately 20% of its staff as a result of decentralisation. He said that the problems resulting from those changes would be eased by means of the redeployment and retraining of current staff. How will that procedure be put in place? What procedures are in place for that retraining and redeployment? Given that it seems fairly extensive, has the Department taken account of a cost for it? The Taoiseach indicated in February that 45 staff in his Department had opted to relocate. Will those people be moved over the long term? Will those changes happen at a certain pace? Does the Taoiseach expect them to be moved in advance of the forthcoming general election?

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