Skip to content
Latest Developments on Decentralisation

Decentralisation - The Facts about the State Agencies

What is the role of State Agencies?

In most cases, State agencies are bodies, with powers and duties set by statute or by ministerial authority. Their workforces are not civil servants.

In general, the functions of State Agencies are complex, unique and specialist. Within this broad umbrella, agencies are charged to develop and promote Ireland as a centre of excellence.   They are specialists in delivering effective and innovative market development. they are linked to national strategies and the development of social policy.

The role of agencies is complex and varied, encompassing such diverse roles as the elimination of poverty, the promotion of Irish food and drink, advice on policy and policy implementation for enterprise, trade, science, responsibility for making and promoting quality awards in education, and training and enforcement of health and safety at work in Ireland.

Who are the State Agency People?

 State agency workers have education and experience specific to their posts. They have accumulated skills in their areas of work, which cannot be readily replaced without a very significant training cost, notwithstanding the fact that much of the requisite knowledge can only be gained through a long involvement in their chosen field.

More importantly, State agency workers, are men, women, husbands, wives, brother’s, sisters, fathers and mothers, who are deeply committed to their jobs, families and communities.

Agency Name
Destination
Job Numbers
Dublin Internal State Agency Applications
Arts Council
Kilkenny
44
0
BIM
Clonakilty
93
0
Bord Bia
Enniscorthy
53
13
Bus Eireann
Mitchelstown
81
0
Central Fisheries Board
Carrick on Shannon
62
2
 
 
 
 
CPA
Monaghan
25
1
Enterprise Ireland
Shannon
292
15
Foras na Gaeilge
Gweedore
30
0
Failte Ireland
Mallow
178
0
FAS
Birr
383
6
FETAC
Edenderry
44
3
HETAC
Edenderry
32
2
National Safety Council
Loughrea
11
0
NBA
Wexford
48
3
NRA
Ballinasloe
89
1
NSAI
Arklow
132
10

Transferability

There is absolutely no facility for transferability within the State agencies, as there are very few generic jobs which an individual with a broad skill set could take up without any serious training.  Within the civil service, staff regularly request transfers between departments and locations; this is not possible with State agencies. 

Surely State agency jobs can be carried out by staff in other State agencies and the civil service?

State agencies are responsible for providing professional advice and contributing to the economic development of Ireland for their specific area of expertise.  For example Enterprise Ireland’s mission is “to accelerate the development of world-class Irish companies to achieve strong positions in global markets resulting in increased national and regional prosperity.”

Bord Iascaigh Mhara’s aim is "to promote the sustainable development of the Irish seafood industry at sea and ashore and support its diversification in the coastal regions so as to enhance the contribution of the sector to employment, income and welfare both regionally and nationally.”

In order to carry out these Government mandates, State agencies need to employ highly skilled experts, most of whom have been working for many years in a particular industry sector. They have built up a huge knowledge base of the agency and its strategy, developed relationships with clients and become expert in a given discipline.

For example, a Senior Development Advisor in Enterprise Ireland is charged with  “identifying and working with new entrepreneurs to provide/coordinate EI supports. particularly during the critical early stage project-building phase, including evaluating funding proposals in partnership with other relevant EI Departments”.

Why are the figures quoted by the Decentralisation Implementation Group are much higher than those put forward by SIPTU?

The main purpose of decentralisation is to move the nominated agencies from their Dublin bases to various locations around the country.  The figures quoted for those who have expressed an interest in moving with the State agencies have three elements:

  • Those currently based in Dublin in the given agency who want to move
  • Those currently based in the regions in the given agency who want to move
  • Those currently based in another state agency or the civil service who want to move to the state agency

The only relevant and real figures here are those who are currently in Dublin in the given State agency who want to move.  Regional staff moving to the new location will not alleviate the problems of Dublin based staff not wanting to move and, at this stage, there is no facility for staff to transfer between State agencies or from the civil service to a state agency or vice versa.

Is SIPTU against decentralisation?

SIPTU is not against decentralisation provided it is carried out in a truly voluntary, properly managed and planned manner.  It is worth remembering that many State agencies are already widely decentralised – for example FAS has offices and training centres in every county of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland has offices in 10 regional centres throughout the country.  These and other agencies are already in every town they need to be and are strategically placed to provide the best possible service to the public.

What is SIPTU’s solution?

SIPTU has been of the view for some time, that the Government’s current plan has damaged the concept of decentralisation for many years to come.  We believe that it is in the interests of our members, the clients of the agencies, and the taxpayer, who requires an efficient Public Service, that the State agencies be removed from the plan.



Previous and Next: | Arts Council