19 May 2005

Gaeltacht

Decentralisation Promotions

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if willingness to participate in the Government's relocation programme has been linked to promotion in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs:  

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question Number 383 of 8 February 2005.

No internal promotions made to date have been linked to decentralisation. However, my Department has indicated that it reserves the right to link future promotions to a willingness to move with the Department to a decentralised location. Ongoing discussions are taking place centrally to agree a protocol on promotions. 

Question 383 8th February 2005:

As the Deputy is aware my Department has offices both in Dublin and also in a decentralised location in Na Forbacha in Galway, and will decentralise to Knock Airport under the Decentralisation Programme.

No persons in my Department have been required to sign, on applying for internal promotion an agreement that they are willing to decentralise. The other questions raised by the Deputy do not, therefore arise. Only one internal promotion was made early in 2004 in my Department’s Dublin office and the candidates applying for that position were not required to sign up for decentralisation as the vacancy arose before the announcement of Decentralisation. Subsequent internal promotions in 2004 were all in Na Forbacha offices.

For the sake of completeness, I should add that four officers have accepted appointments to my Department’s Dublin office on the understanding that they are willing to decentralise. These appointments are as a result of either open or interdepartmental competitions.