Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 444: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food under what conditions public servants previously employed in the Department of Agriculture and Food in Davitt House, Castlebar, and now either being transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Food in Portlaoise or taking up positions as shift workers on the new Garda PULSE system, can be based in Davitt House, Castlebar; if this changes the conditions of employment for these public servants; the numbers and grades involved; the way in which these conditions imposed can be equated with a voluntary scheme; the situation pertaining to those who do not agree to go to Portlaoise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30647/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Consequent on the recent reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, a number of headage and premium schemes are being terminated by my Department. This reduces my Department's requirement for staff. In particular, there will be a reduction of approximately 100 in staffing levels in Michael Davitt House.

The Garda Síochána is establishing the Garda information service centre, GISC, in Castlebar which will perform some administrative functions of the Garda. This centre will be situated in Michael Davitt House and, when fully rolled out, have a staffing complement of 161 people. While the majority of staff in GISC will be required to work on a shift work basis, there are about 40 positions within GISC where staff will continue to work on a normal day basis and these are being reserved for Department of Agriculture and Food staff based in Castlebar.

The transfer of staff to shift work will be on a voluntary basis and no Department of Agriculture and Food staff are being compulsorily transferred from Castlebar to Portlaoise. The GISC requires 161 staff, made up of one principal officer, five assistant principals, 12 higher executive officers, 20 executive officers, ten senior officers and 113 clerical officers. Currently, in those grades, my Department has a staffing complement of 139 people in Michael Davitt House made up three principal officers, five assistant principals, 16 higher executive officers, 29 executive officers, 20 senior officers and 66 clerical officers.

The number of volunteers from my Department staff in Castlebar is below the numbers identified by the Garda Síochána as being required. Accordingly, the next step in the process will include the extension of the option of transferring to GISC to staff of the other Departments in Castlebar, the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. It is expected that staff transferring from these Departments will create vacancies that can, in turn, be filled by Department of Agriculture and Food staff who do not wish to transfer to GISC.