Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 321: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications for voluntary decentralisation that have been received by his Department and the State agencies under its aegis; and the number of requests that have been granted and executed. [13622/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is required to relocate 250 posts to Carlow under the Government's Decentralisation Programme and this is planned to occur by the end of 2009.

As at 4th April 2007, there have been 321 applications to decentralise to Carlow with my Department. There are 108 Carlow-bound applicants assigned within the Department, with a further 73 Carlow-bound applicants yet to be assigned to the Department. 140 applicants have for a variety of reasons withdrawn or changed their applications to decentralise to Carlow.

The following is the current position relating to the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department as at 4th April 2007:

Health and Safety Authority

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is required to move 110 posts to Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny as part of the Government's decentralisation programme. To date, a total of 62 applicants have expressed an interest through the Central Application Facility (CAF) process in transferring to Thomastown.

In anticipation of the move to Thomastown, the Authority established an interim office in Kilkenny city in August 2006. 18 staff are now located in that office.

The only decentralisation requests that have been granted to date relate to internal HSA staff. Of the 18 staff currently based in the interim office, 6 are internal HSA staff who have decentralised from other HSA offices and the remaining 12 are newly recruited staff that were contractually obligated to decentralise.

FÁS

Under the Government's decentralisation programme, FÁS is due to transfer its head office including some 383 posts to Birr, Co Offaly by 2009.

To date, a total of 110 FAS staff have expressed an interest in relocating to Birr, broken down as follows:

26 FAS staff have volunteered to move (outside of CAF)

6 FAS staff have signed up through the CAF

44 New Entrants have signed contracts with the relocation clause

34 Promoted staff have signed contracts with the relocation clause. However these cases are being examined by the parties and the matter has been referred to the Labour Court.

To date, 3 staff members have re-located to Birr, Co. Offaly, and it is anticipated that between 40 and 50 staff will be located in Birr by the middle of the year.

Enterprise Ireland

Under the Government's decentralisation programme, Enterprise Ireland is required to move 300 posts to Shannon, Co Clare. The total number of civil and public servants who have indicated an interest in decentralising to Enterprise Ireland in Shannon amounts to 28. To date, no requests have been granted and executed.

National Standards Authority of Ireland

The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is required to move 132 posts to Arklow, Co Wicklow. The number of NSAI staff who have applied to move to a decentralised location in Arklow is 9. The number of non-NSAI staff who have applied under the CAF system for decentralisation to Arklow is 79. To date, no requests have been granted and executed.