Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 66: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of principal development specialists volunteering to decentralise with Irish Aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13002/06]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 84: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of senior development specialists volunteering to decentralise with Irish Aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13001/06]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 116: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of development specialists volunteering to decentralise with Irish Aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13003/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 84 and 116 together.

There are three categories of specialists employed by Irish Aid — principal development specialists, senior development specialists and development specialists. All specialist positions will be transferring to Limerick. There are also three principal development specialists in Irish Aid headquarters in Dublin. None of the three has applied to decentralise to Limerick.

There are 12 senior development specialists in Irish Aid headquarters. Likewise, from this group, none of the 12 has applied to decentralise to Limerick. Two senior development specialists originally applied to decentralise to Limerick but subsequently withdrew their applications. In addition, there are nine development specialist posts in headquarters. Five development specialists are intending to decentralise. Of these, four commenced employment since the announcement of the decentralisation programme in December 2003, and one applied via the central applications facility.

Discussions are ongoing with representatives of the specialists, their union IMPACT and 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.