Written answers

Tuesday, 26 April 2022

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Departmental Staff

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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1882. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline all of the secondment arrangements within his Department; the conditions related to such secondments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19862/22]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department regularly reviews its staffing assignments to ensure that our resources are being used to support our work in the most effective and strategic manner possible. In this regard, consideration is given to facilitating temporary secondment opportunities to support our internal workforce, providing current Department staff with an opportunity to benefit from the expertise and knowledge transfer from colleagues seconded into my Department on a temporary basis.  Currently, there are a total of nine officers seconded into my Department.  All of these officers are paid for by my Department.

Similarly, consideration is given to achieving a balance between facilitating temporary secondment opportunities for existing Department staff while also retaining key expertise within my Department for ongoing responsibilities. These secondments can be within the state or overseas. At present, my Department has a total of 28 officers on secondments including through the EU’s Seconded National Experts programme. Of the 28 arrangements, nine continue to be paid by the Department while a further eight officers operate under a "Pay and Recoup" system. In these instances, the roles undertaken are considered to provide employees with skills and experiences which have potential to benefit the Department.  Eleven officers are paid directly by their seconded Departments.

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