Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount of money spent upgrading and making amendments or changes to the offices layout, fixtures, fittings and so on by her Department to accommodate the transfer of staff from FÁS; if she will provide this information on an office by office basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35561/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Staff and services were integrated in to my Department from FÁS with effect from 1st January 2012. This involved the transfer of 742 staff and 54 Employment Service Offices to my Department. It has not been necessary to carry out any refurbishment or upgrade to any of the 54 buildings to accommodate this transfer.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to establishing a new National Employment and Entitlements Service as part of its drive to implement more efficient and effective delivery of services to unemployed people and others. This will involve changes in how members of the public interact with the Department's staff and will require changes in offices layout, fixtures and fittings in the Department's local offices. Plans are currently being developed in that regard. The associated costs are not related to the transfer of staff who were formerly employed by FÁS per se but the staff concerned will be part of the improved service delivery arrangements.