Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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126. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the Commissioner of Valuation is of the view that the introduction of a regional structure for the Valuation Office is not in line with the current operational requirements and work programmes of the organisation; the reason it is not at present under consideration, in view of the fact that the Valuation Office's work regularly brings staff to all counties and furthermore regional remote working offices were piloted for a nine month period in 2016 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3023/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Under the provisions of the Valuation Acts, 2001 to 2015, the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the exercise of his functions, and is responsible for the management and operations of the Valuation Office. As Minister for Justice and Equality, I have no function in relation to operational decisions of the Office. I am informed by the Commissioner of Valuation that the current arrangements in which all of the staff of the Valuation Office are located in one office premises in central Dublin are considered to be suitable and appropriate to the current needs of the organisation. This structure facilitates optimal use of centralised services and effective management and support structures are in place to take advantage of this arrangement in a cost effective manner.

Though staff of the Valuation Office are required, in the course of their duties, to visit other locations from time to time, I am informed that due to the increased use of information and communications technologies and the extensive electronic data sources available to the Office, the requirement to travel is increasingly less prevalent. I am also informed that although informal arrangements are in place to enable a small number of staff to work remotely from other Government buildings, this should not be regarded as a pilot project or a regional structure for the future. There are no proposals to put such a structure in place, nor is it part of the recently published strategic plan for the Office. These informal arrangements are temporary in nature and subject to review in September 2017 in light of changing requirements.