Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 275: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of principal development and senior development specialists with Irish Aid volunteering to decentralise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13300/06]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There are three principal development specialists and 12 senior development specialists attached to Irish Aid. All specialist posts will be transferring to Limerick. There are no current applications for these posts in Limerick. Two senior development specialists originally applied to decentralise to Limerick, but subsequently withdrew their applications.

Discussions are ongoing with representatives of the specialists, with their union IMPACT and with the Department of Finance about the issues involved in decentralisation which also have a wider Civil Service dimension. It would be my hope that a greater number of specialists will, in time, volunteer to decentralise to Limerick.