Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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559. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason two staffing positions within his Department were not filled from the central transfer list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3210/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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As outlined in my previous response to this question, information held on transfer lists is dated and in many cases obsolete.  The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is in the process of carrying out an extensive review of the transfer system and expects to have a dedicated system in place by mid-year that will hold up to date and relevant information for use by Departments in filling positions at all levels. 

My Department is currently working through transfer lists for our extensive range of locations and is also assisting other Departments in updating their lists.  As I have already advised, this is a resource intensive process and in view of the fact that a new up to date system will be in place by mid-year, my Department is awaiting the activation of this new system.  Pending the implementation of the new system, my Department will continue to seek to ensure that sufficient resources are in place to deliver Government priorities and fill critical posts through recruitment as required.

In the case of the named person, there are a number of people ahead of this person on the relevant transfer list.  My Department is working with other Government Departments with a view to establishing the current status of their applications.  This is a lengthy process as Civil Servants regularly move to different Departments during their careers and may move several times.  Until the status of applications is established, my Department cannot offer any transfers based on the current available information.