Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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300. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the civilian ministerial drivers; if they have been redeployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9769/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware from my appearance before the Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach on 2 February last, certain Civilian Drivers have been replaced with Garda officers following a security review recommendation from the Garda Commissioner to the Minister for Justice.

I have given careful consideration to the unique situation that now arises for this cadre of Civilian Drivers that have been displaced through no fault of their own given that the respective term of their contractual appointment was to be co-terminus with term of the relevant Minister, noting that many may have left jobs to take on the role of Civilian Driver.

Displaced Civilian Drivers who have not been appointed by way of secondment or leave of absence from other employment, as an alternative to standard severance terms at this time, have the opportunity to consider an offer of potential redeployment as Temporary Clerical Officers in the civil service for a period co-terminus with the Minister that they were originally assigned to as a Driver. Officials in my Department are at this time working with the relevant Local HR Units in providing the Drivers concerned with the details of such arrangements.