Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 187: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if civil servants at various levels seeking to relocate to an area closer to their homes can or will be facilitated in instances where a person in their own Department or alternative Department is willing to transfer to their location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3198/11]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Civil servants in the circumstances outlined by the deputy are facilitated in accordance with agreed arrangements. Under formal protocols agreed between the Civil, Public and Services Union and the Department of Finance, the names of Clerical Officers and Staff Officers who apply for a transfer to an alternative location are entered on the Department's central transfer lists. While there are no formal protocols in place in respect of other grades, my Department maintains informal lists where staff members' interest in relocating is noted.

Staff, irrespective of grade, who wish to be considered for a transfer to a location designated under the Government's Decentralisation Programme are required to register their interest on the Central Applications Facility (CAF) which is administered by the Public Appointments Service. Officers' names are entered on both the central transfer and CAF lists in the order in which they are received and the Department has no discretion to deviate from the order of these lists.

The particular type of transfer to which the Deputy refers is known as a head to head transfer whereby, in effect, officers swop positions. Head to head transfers between officers in different locations can only be facilitated if the transfer clearly does not cut across the order of the transfer system as outlined above. In addition, when considering head to head transfer requests the Department must be mindful of the business needs of the offices in question with particular regard to critical staffing levels.