Written answers

Tuesday, 14 February 2006

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Decentralisation Programme

9:00 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 457: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, with regard to decentralisation proposals that are relevant to his Department, he is satisfied that sufficient numbers of staff at secretary and assistant secretary level are currently willing to decentralise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5031/06]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 458: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the Secretary General of his Department has consulted with officers at assistant secretary level regarding decentralisation; the number who have expressed an interest in decentralising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5046/06]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 457 and 458 together.

In 2004, the Department of Finance requested each Secretary General and head of office to discuss the question of decentralisation with his or her senior officers at assistant secretary level. In total, up to 60 posts at this level are due to relocate under the decentralisation programme. The decentralisation implementation group reported in September 2004 that, at that stage, 19 individuals indicated that they would move or were likely to move and a further 19 would consider moving at a later stage. Since then, vacancies at this level, including those in this Department, have been filled by the top level appointments committee on the basis that the successful candidate will decentralise at the appropriate time.

I do not consider it appropriate to indicate the individual preferences of officers at this level in this Department but I am confident that there will be a sufficient cadre of people at this level to provide continuity of leadership and management experience as the decentralisation programme is rolled out. The senior management of my Department are all actively involved in the preparation of the implementation plans for decentralisation to meet the timescale emerging from the work of the decentralisation implementation group which is co-ordinating the effort.

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