Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Finance if correspondence from a person (details supplied) was responded to; the date on which the response was furnished; the contents of the reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36160/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The letter, of June 2004, referred to was from a trade union to the Department of Finance about the issue of inter-changeability of the grades of higher tax officer and executive officer in the context of decentralisation. The issue was covered in the continuing discussions between the Department of Finance and the staff panel of trade unions, of which the union in question is a part, at a special sub-committee of general council on the question of inter-changeability of grades. Proposals about the issue have now been tabled and the response of the staff panel is awaited as part of the discussions on decentralisation. In the light of this, a written reply was not considered necessary.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason the higher tax officers and tax officer grades are excluded from the decentralisation programme; if he will review this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36161/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The grades of higher tax officer and tax officer are not excluded from the decentralisation programme.

The intention of the central applications facility has always been to allow staff, in all participating organisations, of which the Revenue Commissioners is one, to apply for transfer to locations in the decentralisation programme. The central applications facility is open to all Revenue staff to make an expression of interest in decentralising.

The exact terms and conditions which will allow access from one sector to another and across professional streams are the subject of ongoing detailed discussions with the trade unions.