Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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571. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of civil servants in her Department who have requested a transfer to a location outside County Dublin; the number of civil servants in her Department who have requested a transfer from a location outside of Dublin into County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31774/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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With regard to applications for transfers to or from other Departments or State Agency offices, my Department does not operate a transfer list. Staff may have their interest in a transfer listed with other Departments which hold a transfer list, or they may seek a possible transfer by means of a "Head to Head" transfer by directly contacting a person willing to transfer with them. My Department only becomes aware of such possible transfer requests when staff have identified suitable opportunities. At such time, it is at the discretion of the Departments concerned to agree to the transfer arrangements, having regard to sick leave and performance assessments. Accordingly, my Department has no information on the number of staff seeking transfers to or from other locations.

Action 15 of the Civil Service Renewal Plan has a commitment to develop a mobility scheme within the Civil Service and work is ongoing with the Civil Service Management Board, Departments and staff interests. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is currently developing Phase 1 of the scheme for the general service grades of Clerical Officer and Executive Officer which is planned to be launched later this year. Phase 2 of the scheme will be developed following the implementation of Phase 1 and will include the general service grades of Higher Executive Officer, Administrative Officer and Assistant Principal Officer.

The scheme will be centralised and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will have the facility to report on numbers on lists per Department and location following its successful launch.