Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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75. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has staff vacancies for transfer from other Departments in the Passport Office in Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, or Balbriggan, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29259/13]

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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76. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his Department have received transfer applications for the Passport Offices in either Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, or Balbriggan, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29260/13]

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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77. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has an active waiting list of civil servants requesting transfers into his Department; if so, the number on this list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29261/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 to 77, inclusive, together.

Under the ECF, the Department is required to reduce core staffing to a total of 1,348 by end-2015, representing a decrease of 224 posts - over 14% - against a September 2008 baseline figure of 1,572.That process is ongoing. As vacancies arise, including in the Passport Service, the Department is obliged to reallocate and reorganise functions and/or staff assignments with a view to endeavouring to maintain continuity of work output and quality of service delivery. Also, some 125-130 temporary clerical staff are hired for 5-6 months each year to assist the Passport Service in meeting peak-season demand for passports. Where Departmental posts are occasionally filled from external sources, the Department seeks to avail of the staff redeployment arrangements now in place across the civil and public service.