Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

I support in principle the endeavours being made by the Department to rationalise its office network. I am anxious to ensure that what emanates from the process in this regard will involve the most efficient and sustainable use of resources. In that context, I recently met staff who are involved with the rationalisation process. I was informed that under the proposal to close down operations in Kilkenny and transfer them to Waterford, staff from the Kilkenny area will be obliged to travel to Waterford each day in order to obtain their work schedules. Some of those whom I met suggested that if a docking station were provided at the offices in Kilkenny that are still owned by the State, field officers would be able to download their work schedules, maps and other essentials and would not be obliged to travel to Waterford each day. These officers would also be able to input any data obtained as a result of their field trips at that docking station. This would mean that the Department would obtain more for less in respect of its field staff.

The proposal being made in this regard seems logical and it would lead to a more efficient and better use of staff resources. Will the Minister consider this proposal not just in the context of Kilkenny, but at other locations where it is proposed to have staff travel long distances to work? I am not referring to keeping offices open to the public, but to facilities at which staff could download what they need in order to complete their work without being obliged to travel to other locations.

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