John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of public servants employed by Irish Aid in Dublin that did not renew their posts when the agency was decentralised to Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13245/10]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of public servants employed by Irish Aid that have requested a transfer to other Departments or public agencies in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13247/10]

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of vacant posts at a mid to senior management level in Irish Aid that remain to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13246/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 112, and 116 together.

Under the Government's decentralisation programme announced in 2003, the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs decentralised to Limerick. This Division operates externally under the name of Irish Aid. The Headquarters of Irish Aid is situated in my Department's Limerick building.

Of the 108 staff assigned to Irish Aid at the time decentralisation was announced, 19 officials were transferred to other areas of my Department as they did not wish to decentralise.

In the past three years, five staff of the Development Cooperation Division of my Department have transferred to other Departments or public bodies.

It is in the nature of the work of my Department that staff members transfer between Divisions at HQ, and indeed to Embassies abroad, on a regular basis. This routine rotation accounts for the balance of the staff transfers from Irish Aid.

The total number of unfilled posts in Irish Aid is currently 9.5. Of those, 6.5 are at, or above, Executive Officer level and equivalent.