Joe Walsh (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 235: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the interim arrangements he is putting in place to facilitate the 180 staff who have already volunteered to decentralise to Clonakilty under the central application facility procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7842/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government's decentralisation programme includes the relocation of my Department's seafood and coastal zone functions, involving 91 posts, and An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, with 93 posts to Clonakilty. Data from the public appointments service, PAS, indicate that 176 expressions of interest have been received for posts in Clonakilty, 140 for posts in the Department and 36 for posts in BIM. As a first step in initiating the transfer processes agreed centrally, PAS has provided details to the Department of applicants expressing an interest in decentralising to Clonakilty.

The Department's priorities are the acquisition of permanent, purpose-built, high quality facilities meeting the needs of staff, providing quality customer service delivery and representing full value for money and also the need to ensure effective business continuity during the process of decentralisation.

The Department is in ongoing liaison with the Office of Public Works in relation to the acquisition of a suitable site and on the detailed specifications of requirements to inform building design. The work is being progressed in line with the decentralisation implementation group's timeframe of early 2007, for completion of the facilities in Clonakilty.

The business case for interim arrangements, in advance of the completion of permanent facilities at Clonakilty is being reviewed. The viability of an interim arrangement would crucially depend on cost and value for money considerations, the availability of suitable interim accommodation, the actual level of take-up of formal offers of transfer by those who have expressed interest the need to promote effective business continuity during the process.