Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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222. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason staff working in social welfare services in County Longford are not being facilitated in transferring to the office in Carrick-on-Shannon even though these transfers were sanctioned some time ago; and if these transfers will take place without further delay. [14893/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Department facilitates staff transfers in accordance with the appropriate protocols. In this regard, where a permanent post falls to be filled by transfer the relevant transfer list is consulted. In addition to having to satisfy attendance and performance criteria, the question as to whether the person can be released from their current office/Department arises. There are a number of reasons why someone might not be released, e.g. they may be required to serve in their current location for a specified period of time, there may be no suitable replacement available should one be required, or the business needs of the office are such that releasing an experienced person cannot be facilitated at that point in time. If a person is not suitable or cannot be released they retain their place on the transfer list for future opportunities and the next person on the list is considered.

An increase in the work undertaken in the Department’s Longford office required the ongoing assignment of a significant number of new staff last year. The Department's priority is to ensure that service is provided to its customers. Therefore, in order to maintain service delivery to those depending on the schemes operated in that Office, it has not always been possible to release experienced staff until new staff are fully trained up. The position is subject to continuous review with a view to being able to facilitate staff transfers when opportunities arise in the future.