Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

613. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of civil servants in her Department that have requested a transfer to a location outside County Dublin; the number of civil servants in her Department that have requested a transfer from a location outside of Dublin into County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31782/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The manner in which transfer lists are currently held does not allow for the provision of the specific details being sought by the Deputy.

Formal transfer protocols exist only in respect of the Clerical Officer grade. As advised in response to Parliamentary Question No. 2114 which I answered for the Deputy on Tuesday 20 June 2017, each Department maintains transfer lists in respect of its own locations. I provided a table which detailed the number of applications for transfer to the Department’s office outside Dublin. While it is open to any Clerical Officer in my Department to apply for a transfer to a location outside Dublin in another Department, details of the number of staff seeking such transfers are not available within the Department.

As you may be aware, Action 15 of the Civil Service Renewal Plan has a commitment to develop a new transfer/mobility scheme within the Civil Service. Work on this scheme is ongoing with the Civil Service Management Board, Departments and staff interests.

It is hoped that Phase 1 of the new scheme which will cater for the Clerical and Executive Officer grades will be launched later in the year. Phase 2 of the scheme will be developed following implementation of Phase 1 and will include the general service grades of Higher Executive Officer, Administrative Officer and Assistant Principal Officer.

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