Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will revise the plans to decentralise the beef carcase classification unit of her Department from County Wexford to County Laois in view of opposition of staff to this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24138/04]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Beef carcase classification is one of the functions executed by the livestock, beef and sheep meat division of my Department. The staff of that division are currently headquartered at three different locations, at my Department's offices in Maynooth and Cavan and in my Department's beef carcase classification unit at Johnstown Castle, Wexford. The decentralisation of my Department is being taken as an opportunity to amalgamate in Portlaoise the staff currently working in these three different locations. There are obvious efficiencies to be gained from such consolidation.

It is the transfer of posts which is proposed. There is no obligation on any staff member to relocate with the work. Officers not interested in relocating would be assigned work suitable to their grade.