Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 518: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of staff who will transfer or have transferred to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government as a result of the transfer of functions relating to foreshore licensing; the location to which such staff will be placed; the number of staff who will remain within his Department to process aquaculture licensing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43186/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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A total of 23 staff are scheduled to transfer from my Department to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government to facilitate the transfer of functions under the Foreshore and Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009. This number is comprised of 18 administrative staff currently based in my Department's offices in Johnstown Castle, Wexford. Five engineering staff members are also scheduled to transfer. The process of selecting engineering staff has yet to be completed.

The transfer of these functions will not affect the overall staffing levels within my Department's Fisheries Division in Clonakilty. Following the transfer of functions as envisaged in the Bill it is expected that there will be scope for internal reassignment of duties which will increase the number of staff working on aquaculture licensing.