Written answers

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Department of Social Protection

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection her proposals regarding locating staff (details supplied) in County Laois and the current position on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37853/12]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department is actively pursuing the setting up of a Control Office in Portlaoise. The new office will be based at Government Buildings, Abbeyleix Rd, Portlaoise in a space previously occupied by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Office of Public Works is currently finalising plans for the required renovations and hope to issue tender documents in the very near future with a view to commencement of works shortly thereafter.

The route for filling vacancies created in Portlaoise will be through redeployment in the first instance and this panel is managed by the Public Appointments Service. If sufficient staff cannot be identified through redeployment then transfer lists will be used to fill any shortfall.

Currently there are two deciding officers based in the Portlaoise Branch Office and two deciding officers from Kilkenny Local Office attend Portlaoise one day per week to implement decisions on Jobseekers claims. The remainder of claims are decided in the Kilkenny Local Office. The long-term plan is that, when open and on a phased basis, the Portlaoise Control Office will take on all decisions for Jobseeker & One Parent Family claims for the three Branch Offices located in Co. Laois, i.e. Portlaoise, Rathdowney and Portarlington.

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