Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with other Government Departments or State agencies who are concerned at the reported potential loss of up to 20% of the 1,700 specialists whose positions have been earmarked for decentralisation as a result of the Government's decentralisation programme; the steps being taken to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10241/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, approximately 1,000 of the 7,200 Civil Service posts covered by the Decentralisation Programme or 10% of the overall programme is composed of professional and technical posts. While the take up from the professional and technical staff has been low to date, in the region of 130 professional and technical personnel have already been assigned to posts that are decentralising.

The Decentralisation Implementation Group, which was established in 2003 to drive the decentralisation process forward, has acknowledged in their latest report dated September 2006 that challenging issues remain in relation to the decentralisation of professional and technical grades including the filling of posts in under-subscribed locations, the placing of staff remaining in Dublin and promotions. While these issues also arise in relation to general service grades, addressing them in the context of professional and technical grades is complicated by the challenges associated with transferring between different organisations or streams.

The Group has asked my Department to explore all appropriate avenues, in consultation with the relevant union representatives, to overcome these difficulties and to come to a conclusion on these issues as soon as possible. In that regard, discussions have been ongoing with the staff representatives and proposals have been tabled in relation to options for staff remaining in Dublin and in relation to promotion arrangements for the professional and technical grades. In addition, staff have been assured of the voluntary nature of the programme. Those wishing to remain in Dublin will be absorbed into posts in the civil service or, alternatively, in other public service bodies.

As the Deputy will be aware, in addition to the professional and technical grades, specialist posts within the State Agencies are due to decentralise under the Decentralisation Programme. The Decentralisation Implementation Group noted in its latest Report that while progress has been made by some State agencies, there has been a marked lack of action in some other agencies. The Group is currently meeting with CEOs from a number of State agencies to get an overview of progress to date and to identify the challenges remaining in implementing the Government policy.

The main issues facing the State agencies are those relating to the filling of posts in under-subscribed locations, the placing of staff choosing to remain in Dublin and promotion arrangements. These issues are further complicated by the absence of any tradition of or agreement on inter-changeability between Public Service organisations and between the Public Service and the Civil Service. The Group is of the view that resolution of the outstanding issues is central to the overall implementation process in the State Agencies. The Group has asked my Department to pursue directly with ICTU proposals for getting central discussions under way on the full range of industrial relations issues relating to the decentralisation of State agencies.

An approach based on negotiations and agreement has enabled significant progress to be made in relation to the Civil Service moves and it is the intention to continue with this policy in relation to the professional and technical grades and the State Agency sector.