Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 391: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has ascertained from all public service agencies involved in decentralisation the make-up of the 2,800 people who have taken up posts due to decentralise; the number of these who are transferring with their post from Dublin, who are transferring upon promotion and who are new recruits; and if he will set out the relevant data. [24675/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the Government's Decentralisation Programme it is planned that the Marine functions of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources will relocate to Clonakilty with the remaining functions moving to Cavan. A total of 170 civil servants have committed to decentralise to these locations under the Programme. 110 of these are Dublin based and included in the total figure are 14 staff who have committed to decentralise on promotion and 23 new recruits.

The Decentralisation Programme included the relocation of Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), involving 42 Dublin based posts, to Dundalk. SEI plans to have an advance party of staff based in Dundalk ahead of the permanent move. Two SEI personnel have taken up decentralised posts in Dundalk and the target is to have a further 10 to 13 staff in decentralised posts relocated from Dublin by end 2007. Of these additional staff, 3-5 are expected to be new recruits.

In relation to the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), the Decentralisation Programme initially provided for the relocation, from Dublin to Clonakilty, of four Sea Fishery Officer posts and one Seafood Control Manager post of the then Seafood Control Division of the Department from Dublin to Clonakilty. The subsequent establishment of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority overtook the plans in place for decentralisation. Under the relevant legislation all technical staff of the former Seafood Control Division were designated for transfer to the SFPA along with the voluntary secondment of administrative staff for a limited period of time.

In effect the establishment of SFPA superseded the plan initially in place to decentralise Seafood Control Division as part of the Departmental divisions going to Clonakilty. As regards the Central Fisheries Board no staff have to date taken up a post in the decentralised location, two staff have taken up posts, which are due to decentralise. There are no staff appointed on promotion or recruitment to decentralising posts. There are no staff members of an Bord Iascaigh Mhara relocated thus far, nor are there any staff recruited or promoted for decentralised posts.