Liz O'Donnell (Dublin South, Progressive Democrats)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Finance if preconditions in regard to decentralisation are applied to existing contracted staff in Government agencies if and when their position becomes established; if those contracted staff in Government agencies are entitled to apply and be considered for the same established position, if and when that established position is advertised; if the decentralisation of Government agency staff is to be done on a purely voluntary basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38541/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Government's decentralisation programme announced in budget 2004 provides for the transfer of 10,300 Civil Service and public sector posts from Dublin to other locations. Almost all Departments are involved, either wholly or partly. A number of semi-State organisations are also involved in the programme.

There are a number of cases in which Civil Service unions and staff are seeking confined competitions to appoint unestablished staff, who are in many instances employed on contract, to established posts within the Civil Service. Policy in regard to decentralisation in these cases is being developed in the context of a draft agreement on promotions which has been under discussion between management and the Civil Service unions for some time.

This draft agreement covers both interdepartmental promotion competitions and internal promotions. In regard to interdepartmental promotions, all appointees from such competitions must agree to relocate with their new post. In regard to internal promotions, where a Department is decentralising in its entirety, from 52 weeks before decentralisation, all promotions in the Department will be made on the basis of a written commitment by promotees to relocate; where a Department is partially decentralising, from 52 weeks before decentralisation, one-half of all promotions will be made on that basis.

Pending final agreement with Civil Service unions and to ensure that the staffing needs of Departments and offices continue to be met, interdepartmental competitions are currently being held on the basis of this draft agreement. In addition, Departments and offices have been asked by the Department of Finance to follow the procedures in the draft in regard to internal promotions. It is expected that the agreement will be finalised shortly.

As the general principle that promotees should be asked to agree to decentralise is now being implemented in both interdepartmental and internal promotions in accordance with the draft agreement, it is clearly essential that the possibility of applying the same condition in the cases of contract staff applying for established posts should also be considered. These cases are being examined by the Department of Finance and the relevant Departments and offices. They are also being discussed with the relevant trade unions.

The Deputy will be aware that the decentralisation programme is voluntary; that is, staff may opt to decentralise with their post or to another post in a decentralised location, or they may opt to remain in Dublin.