Ref : BS 042/07
31 May, 2007.
Decentralisation - Report of Meeting held on 30 May 2007
Dear Branch Secretary,
Enclosed is the report of the latest meeting of the Decentralisation sub-committee of General Council. Please bring this to the attention of members.
As usual, the report will be posted on the Union’s web-site, www.pseu.ie , in the coming days.
The issues discussed at this meeting were as follows :
1. Decentralisation Implementation Group
2. Filling of posts in Dublin suburban locations
3. Department of Defence possible ‘Advance Party’
4. Recruitment of open COs and EOs
5. ‘Loss of Earnings’ and ‘Fixed Time Workers’ proposals
Yours sincerely
T. Geraghty,
Deputy General Secretary.
To : All Branch Secs in Civil Service,
IAA, HSA, FAS, OSI, Sports Council
Meeting of the General Council Sub-Committee on Decentralisation
held on - 30 May 2007
Present:
Official Side : C. Connolly (Chair); E. Gargan (Sec); M. Errity, P. McBride, A. Stapleton, K. Sheedy, B. Fox, B. Fee, J. Kirwan.
Staff Side : P. Tobin (Chair); T. Geraghty (PSEU); R. Glackin (CPSU);
D. Thomas, J. Kelleher (AHCPS); T. Hoare (IMPACT).
1. The Official Side Representatives stated that the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG), was monitoring the progress of moves planned for 2007 and had been prompting Departments/Agencies scheduled to move in 2008 and 2009. They had also been meeting representatives of the various State Agencies affected by the programme.
A list regarding the moves due in 2007 was circulated and is enclosed.
2. The Official Side Representatives stated that they were in discussions with Departments due to re-locate who have offices outside of Dublin city-centre, with a view to putting proposals together on how opportunities for filling posts in these suburban locations might be met. They outlined a sequence which involved first offers going to staff if their posts in the city-centre were re-located to the suburbs and secondly that staff located currently in those locations would be offered the opportunity to remain there. A brief discussion ensued and it was agreed that when discussions with Departments were completed, a document would be given to the Staff Side. In this regard the PSEU Representative referred to the fact that staff in the Department of Defence were being moved out of that Department on a ‘Last In, First Out’ basis currently and that any proposals would have to take account of those staff in addition to those located currently in the suburban locations.
3. In relation to the Department of Defence, the PSEU Representative made the further point that staff were moving into that Department, (and had moved there already in some cases), in order to go to Newbridge and, as a result, would be expected, in many instances, to commute from locations adjacent to Newbridge to Glasnevin, which involved getting into the city and then back out again to the suburbs. This made it desirable that arrangements for an advance party be made at the earliest opportunity.
The Official Side Representatives agreed to look at this and to get back to the Staff Side.
4. The Official Side Representatives referred to a proposal sent to the Staff Side - but not received by the PSEU prior to the meeting – to recruit open COs and EOs to posts in Dublin in Departments that are due to re-locate, as those Departments are experiencing difficulties in filling posts because many of the CAF applicants are located currently in the provinces. The proposal is that the people would be recruited at these levels for Dublin and in 18 months or so would be moved to the next vacancies in Dublin.
A letter to the CPSU is enclosed and a similar letter is understood to be due to be sent to the PSEU.
The Staff Side Representative stated that they would consider the matter.
5. The Official Side Representatives asked if the Staff Side was in a position to respond to proposals put at the last meeting in respect of loss of earnings for staff in allowance posts whose posts are re-located and also in respect of proposals put regarding Fixed-Term Workers.
The Staff Side Representatives stated that more time was needed to consider these proposals.
6. The next meeting was fixed for 27 June and, there being no other business, the meeting then concluded.
T. Geraghty,
Deputy General Secretary.
(encl - Letter to CPSU)
Ms. Rosaleen Glackin,
CPSU,
Adelaide House,
19/20 Adelaide Road,
Dublin 2
24 May, 2007
Re: Arrangements for filling vacancies in posts, currently based in Dublin, at CO and EO level
Dear Ms. Glackin,
I am writing to you regarding arrangements to fill vacancies at CO and EO level in respect of posts which are currently based in Dublin but due to relocate to a provincial location under the Government’s Public Service Decentralisation Programme.
We raised this issue briefly with you most recently on the 1st of May at a meeting between Department officials and the CPSU. A number of decentralising organisations have contacted the Central Decentralisation Unit regarding difficulties being encountered in filling CO and EO posts in Dublin pending their move to their new location.
In response to these difficulties we are implementing a revision to the current policy to allow some recruitment to vacant CO and EO posts, currently based in Dublin, but due to relocate. This change has been informed by data provided by the organisations concerned and takes account of the potential business risk caused by carrying vacancies and the need to protect the position of CAF applicants from outside of Dublin.
The following conditions are attached to the arrangement:
· The assignment with the decentralising Department will be for a period of 18 months only or the date on which the Department’s permanent accommodation becomes available in the decentralised location, whichever is the earlier. The term of the assignment may be shorter for Departments expected to relocate before the end of 2008. The terms of the initial assignment will be made clear in the offer of appointment issued by the PAS.
· At the end of that period the staff member will be assigned to the next vacancy arising in a department or office remaining in Dublin.
· If the decentralising Department’s planned relocation extends beyond 18 months the Department will be obliged to put whatever strategies are necessary in place, including advance accommodation, to recruit staff for the decentralised location well before the temporary assignments come to an end.
· The staff member will retain his / her seniority on transfer as the transfer is taking place at the request of management.
It is intended that EO intake will count against the open panel liabilities in the agreed promotion sequence.
It is this Department’s view that the new arrangement is an important and necessary step to protect the position of the provincial based CAF applicants and to avoid those applicants being required to spend long periods of time in Dublin prior to relocation of the post.
This Department also feels that the initial temporary assignment to a decentralising organisation, coupled with a move to an alternative post within two years, will benefit the new recruits in terms of an opportunity to obtain a variety of work experience and scope for the development of competencies.
This process will be centrally monitored by Personnel & Remuneration Division in this Department to ensure that the process operates smoothly and effectively.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Errity
Assistant Secretary
Personnel & Remuneration Division
Decentralisation Programme UpdateBased on September 2006 DIG Report and updates on Advance Moves
OPW Construction Completion date Updated by CDU / Availability of Advance Accomodation/ *Status of Permanent Accomodation
Location / Organisation
Athlone / Education & Science / Q2 2008
Athy / Revenue Commissioners / Mid 2009 / Q2 2007
Ballina / Road Safety Authority / Q2 2007 / Q2 2007
Ballinasloe / Railway Safety Commission / Q1 2009
Birr / FAS / In place
Buncrana / Social & Family Affairs / Q1 2009
Carlow PPP / Enterprise, Trade & Employment / Q1 2009 / Fit-out of temporary space underway.
Carrickmacross / Social & Family Affairs / End 2008
Carrick-on-Shannon / Social & Family Affairs / Complete / *Fit-out underway
Cavan / Communications, Marine & Natural Resources / End 2009 / In place
Claremorris / Office of Public Works / Early 2009 / Q2 2007
Clifden / Pobal (formerly ADM) / Q3 2008 / In place
Clonakilty / Communications, Marine & Natural Resources / Q3 2008 / In place. Further space under consideration.
Clonakilty / Sea Food Protection Authority / In place
Donegal / Social & Family Affairs / Mid 2009
Drogheda / Transport / Q3 2008
Drogheda PPP / Social & Family Affairs / Q1 2009
Dundalk / Sustainable Energy Ireland / In place
Fermoy / Agriculture & Food / Early 2009
Kanturk / Office of Public Works / End 2008
Kildare / CMOD / *Under investigation
Kilkenny / Environment, Heritage & Local Government / End 2008
Killarney / Arts, Sport & Tourism / Q4 2008 / In place in Fossa
Kilrush / Revenue Commissioners / Q2 2007 / *Fit-out underway
Knock Airport / Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs / Q2 2008 / In place in Tubbercurry
Limerick / Development Co-operation Ireland / Q3 2007 / In place
Listowel / Revenue Commissioners / Q2 2007 / *Fit-out underway
Longford / Irish Prison Service / Complete / *Fit-out underway
Loughrea / Transport/Road Safety Authority / Q2 2007 / Interim Accomodation in place
Macroom / Agriculture & Food / Site to be acquired
Mullingar PPP / Education & Science / Q1 2009
Naas / Irish Auditing & Accounting Supervisory Authority / In place
Na Forbacha / Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs / End 2007 / In place
Navan / DJELR Agencies / Q1 2009 / By end 2007
Navan / Revenue Commissioners / By end 2007
New Ross / Environment, Heritage & Local Government / Q4 2009
Newbridge / Defence / Q3 2008
Newcastle West / Revenue Commissioners / Q4 2007 / In place in Limerick
Portarlington / Data Protection Commisioner / Mid 2008 / Temporary space occupied
Portarlington / Equality Tribunal / Mid 2008
Portarlington / NEWB / Mid 2008
Portarlington / NCCA / Mid 2008
Portlaoise PPP / Agriculture & Food / Q1 2009 / In place
Roscommon / Property Registration Authority / Mid 2009 / In place
Roscrea / Equality Authority / End 2008 / By end 2007
Roscrea / Garda Ombudsman Commission / End 2008
Sligo / Social & Family Affairs / Q2 2007 / In place
Thomastown / Health and Safety Authority / Q4 2008 / In place in Kilkenny
Thurles / Garda HQ (part) / End 2008 / In place. Further space due Q2 2007.
Tipperary / Justice, Equality & Law Reform / End 2008 / In place
Trim / Office of Public Works / Q4 2008
Tullamore / Finance / Complete / *Permanent Move Complete
Waterford / Environment, Heritage & Local Government / Q3 2010 / *PPP
Wexford / Environment, Heritage & Local Government / Q3 2008 / Q2 2007
Youghal / Public Appointments Service / Mid 2009
Youghal / Valuation Office / Mid 2009
Staff moved and due to move to end 2007
Location / Organisation / Staff moved
Organisations moved end April 2007
1 / Portlaoise / Dept of Agriculture & Food / 209
2 / Tipperary / Dept of Justice, Equality & Law Reform – Private Security Agency / 24
3 / Na Forbacha / Dept of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs / 10
4 / Sligo / Dept of Social & Family Affairs / 84
5 / Clifden / Pobal / 21
6 / Limerick (Newcastlewest advance party) / Revenue Commissioners / 39
7 / Tullamore / Dept of Finance / 120
8 / Tubbercurry (Knock advance party) / Dept of Community, Rural & Gael Affairs / 67
9 / Thurles / Garda HQ – Garda Vetting Office / 34
10 / Clonakilty / Dept of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources / 32
Clonakilty / Sea Food Protection Authority / 22
11 / Cavan / Dept of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources / 27
12 / Portarlington / Data Protection Commissioner / 22
13 / Kilkenny (Thomastown advance party) / Health & Safety Authority / 28
14 / Killarney / Dept of Arts, Sports & Tourism / 44
15 / Roscommon / Property Registration Authority / 33
16 / Athlone / Department of Education & Science / 18
17 / Birr / FAS / 14
18 / Dundalk / Sustainable Energy Ireland / 2
19 / Naas / Irish Auditing & Accounting Supervisory Authority / 7
Cumulative Total / 857
Organisations due to move by mid 2007
20 / Ballina / Road Safety Authority / 62
21 / Carrick-on-Shannon / Dept of Social & Family Affairs / 50
22 / Loughrea / Road Safety Authority/Dept of Transport / 50
23 / Kilrush / Revenue Commissioners / 50
24 / Claremorris / Office of Public Works / 35
25 / Listowel / Revenue Commissioners / 50
26 / Athy (advance party) / Revenue Commissioners / 50
Athlone / Department of Education & Science / 7
27 / Wexford / Dept of Environment, Heritage & Local Government / 40
Clonakilty / Dept of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources / 44
Cavan / Dept of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources / 41
Roscommon / Property Registration Authority / 10
Cumulative Total / 1346
Organisations due to move by end 2007
28 / Navan / Probation & Welfare Service / 20
Garda Civilian HR Unit / 37
National Property Services Regulatory Authority / 6
Revenue Commissioners / 80
Dundalk / Sustainable Energy Ireland / 17
Limerick / Dept of Foreign Affairs / 55
Roscommon / Property Registration Authority / 24
29 / Carlow / Dept of Enterprise, Trade & Employment / 90
30 / Roscrea / Equality Authority / 20
31 / Kildare / Dept of Finance - CMOD / 30
32 / Longford / Irish Prison Service / 141
33 / Shannon / Enterprise Ireland (incl. 40 existing Shannon Dev. staff) / 60
Killarney / Arts, Sport & Tourism / 24
Tullamore / Dept of Finance / 10
Carrick-on-Shannon / Dept of Social & Family Affairs / 80
Portlaoise / Dept of Agriculture & Food / 26
Thurles / Garda HQ - Fixed Charge Processing Section / 43
Tipperary Town (advance party) / Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service / 50
Clifden / Pobal / 8
Cumulative Total / 2167
Ref : BS042/07