Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity to raise an issue of serious concern to eight employees of the local authorities in County Tipperary and their families. The issue at hand is the decision made by Garda human resources, HR, not to proceed with a number of redeployments already agreed between the local authorities in County Tipperary and the offices of the Garda vetting unit. These transfers had been negotiated and signed off on by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government but were later blocked by the Department of Justice and Equality. Eight staff in total, six from South Tipperary County Council and two from North Tipperary County Council, had agreed to transfer to the Garda vetting unit and received a letter of offer confirming their transfer only to have the rug pulled from under them later to devastating effect. These employees believe they have been abandoned.

I will outline the timeline of events. In March this year preliminary discussions took place between North and South Tipperary County Councils and the Garda vetting unit on the possibility of having a redeployment option for staff in County Tipperary. Following these discussions, the local authorities issued an e-mail to all staff, inviting expressions of interest. It was indicated to staff that the vacancies were at grades three and four, with a limited number at grade six. It was later clarified that Garda HR was seeking grade three clerical officers only. Full clarification from Garda HR on a number of queries concerning contracts and terms and conditions was provided for the county councils in June. In July the local authorities received an e-mail from Garda HR seeking an update on the progress of potential redeployments. Further to this e-mail, on 24 July, a letter of offer was issued to eight members of staff who had expressed an interest and been identified as suitable for redeployment. An e-mail was returned to Garda HR from the councils outlining the proposal to transfer eight members of staff and providing details of release dates, commencing in September. In August confirmation of the transfers was received from Garda HR. It was stated the transfers would initially, for the remainder of this year, be on a secondment basis, followed by permanent transfers. All the required information on the eight staff was passed to Garda HR and following the provision of this information, confirmation was received from Garda HR that there were vacancies in both the Thurles and Tipperary town offices of the Garda vetting unit for the proposed transfer of these eight staff members. It was agreed that the transfers would commence in September. However, on 2 September, before the redeployments could be realised, the county manager received a telephone call from Garda HR to advise that the proposal was no longer progressing. The eight staff were then notified of the difficulty.

The councils and the staff, in particular, are understandably disappointed and very aggrieved that the proposed redeployment opportunities were effectively withdrawn, particularly in view of the fact that they had already been issued with a formal contract of offer. When the staff received these written offers, they began to make preparations for themselves and their families in the light of their new changed work circumstances. The late removal of this offer has had a devastating impact on the individuals and families concerned. Since their offers have been withdrawn, the staff in question have essentially been left in the dark with no information on whether the transfers could occur at a later date or where they will turn to from here. As a result of the amalgamation of the two local authorities in County Tipperary, discussions are under way internally on where the staff will be transferred and how the single authority will operate. The eight staff who were to be transferred to the Garda vetting unit are essentially in limbo and have been hugely disadvantaged by the conflicting information they have received. It is grossly unfair to them that they should be so adversely affected. They acted in good faith at all times and trusted the information provided for them. It is now urgent and essential that due consideration be given to the request to follow through on the offers previously made.

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