Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of applications from staff for transfer, relocation or exchange received in his Department and or other bodies or agencies under his aegis by his Department in each of the past three years to date in 2010; the number of approvals; the number of rejections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30772/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The following is the information requested in relation to my Department and information supplied by the Offices under the aegis of my Department. This information does not include applications for transfers to decentralised locations through the Central Applications facility (CAF) for which the Public Appointments Service have central responsibility. Finance The information does not relate to applications for temporary secondment (e.g. EU Commission) or reassignments within the Department itself. In 2009 a levy was placed on most Departments to provide staff to the Department of Social Protection. Within the total a levy of 15 was applied to my Department. 65 people applied and 15 have since transferred. Office of the Revenue Commissioners Revenue maintains internal Transfer lists for its locations in relation to its own staff and Central Transfer Lists for Clerical Officers and Staff Officers for non-decentralised locations. The following table shows the number of applications received by the Revenue Commissioners from its own staff for transfer to a different geographic location within Revenue.

Applications for transfer are considered when suitable fillable vacancies occur in chosen geographic locations, taking account of a person's date of application, and the business needs of the organization, and relevant trade union agreements. Applications are not rejected, they remain on the list and are considered as opportunities arise.

The following table shows the number of transfers which have taken place in the relevant period. In the time allowed it was not possible to include in the table transfers into Revenue for example, by redeployment or under the decentralisation programme. Revenue will contact the Deputy directly to see what further information can be provided.

The following table shows the number of head-for-head exchanges between staff in Revenue and other Departments for the relevant period.

Office of Public Works

In the last 31⁄2 years, a total of 50 staff moved out of the Office of Public Works to other Departments - 7 in 2007, 11 in 2008, 20 in 2009 and 12 to date in 2010. The majority of those transferred on a voluntary basis as a reciprocal transfer for staff transferring into this Office from the Central Applications Facility for decentralisation or by agreement with another Department. Among the 50, were 2 staff who were re-deployed, 5 who were assigned to other Departments following career breaks, and 1 staff member who was seconded.

Any requests received for transfer to another Department/Office, where there is no decentralisation factor involved, would be forwarded as a matter of course to those Departments/Offices. These would not necessarily have an appropriate vacancy, and therefore no transfer may take place.

Where transfer offers are received from other Departments/Offices, they are circulated to all relevant grades, and expressions of interest are forwarded to that Department/Office for consideration. There was one member of staff on a transfer list for another Department, whose application was rejected as the applicant did not meet all of the criteria for transfer.

This Office is currently in receipt of a small number of applications for transfer to a Dublin location from a decentralised location. These applications will be processed in accordance with a mobility policy to be settled by the Department of Finance. Public Appointments Service The number of applications received from staff for a transfer from 2007 to date are set out below, as is the number of actual transfers. No transfers were rejected by PAS. All requests were forwarded on to the relevant Departments/Offices (that staff wish to transfer to), but these Departments/Offices would not necessarily have an appropriate vacancy. Therefore, staff who transferred out in a particular year may have requested that transfer in a previous year.

Commission for Public Service Appointments

In 2009 three staff members applied for a transfer out of this Office. Each of the applications were officially approved on the condition that replacements had to be in place before they could go ahead. This Office is currently in discussions with the Department of Finance and the Office of the Ombudsman with a view to this Office merging with the Office of the Ombudsman. This merger will obviously have an effect on the transfer applications.

State Laboratory

The State Laboratory has received one application for transfer. This application has been approved. Transfer is subject to the identification of a suitable vacancy.

Valuation Office

Office of the Appeals Commissioner

No applications.

In the time available it has not been possible to compile information in relation to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. I will arrange for the relevant material to be forwarded directly to the Deputy.