Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Finance the position and progress with the Civil Service unions on the procedures that apply in respect of civil servants opting to remain in Dublin while their Department is moving to another location under the decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10675/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The primary mechanism for placing civil servants who are in posts which are due to decentralise but wish to remain in Dublin is by way of bilateral transfer. As staff whose organisations are remaining in Dublin, but who themselves have applied to relocate, continue to be transferred into decentralising organisations, the posts they vacate become available to those wishing to remain in Dublin.

In addition, the Public Appointments Service operates a system which will match Dublin based posts with people wishing to remain in Dublin. Any decentralising organisation which anticipates that it will have staff wishing to remain in Dublin who cannot be placed within the organisation will engage with the Public Appointments Service in the placement of these individuals.

Following detailed discussions with the civil service unions, which concluded in February, the precise operation of these arrangements has been amended to improve their overall effectiveness. The aim is to achieve a close alignment between the assignment of staff to Dublin posts and the readiness of Departments to release staff at particular grade levels. In that context, Departments and Offices have been asked to update the Public Appointments Service in relation to posts that require to be filled and staff that require to be placed through these arrangements. This will be an ongoing process throughout the transition phase of the Programme.