3. PART 3: COSTS AND TIMING

3. PART 3: COSTS AND TIMING

3.1 Costs

The Equality Tribunal is funded by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and is under the Equality subhead. The Department prepares projections of future costs for the Tribunal on a subhead-by subhead basis. Those estimates are based on there being no policy change or additional staffing levels and the projections indicate the expected cost of providing the level of service which is currently being provided.

It is not possible at this time to prepare an accurate projection of future costs arising from the decentralisation of the Tribunal's staff. However, issues like additional training, carrying extra posts during the transitional phase, possible increases in travel and subsistence costs, changeover to the Department's IT shared services costs, overtime costs, etc. have been the subject of a detailed examination with a view to both quantifying and minimising the costs involved. These issues have been flagged in our financial risk register which is provided to the Department and we are currently discussions with the Department on the issue of our future additional expenditure requirements. Our Budget Committee and Senior Management team are actively monitoring the issue.

The Tribunal has no resources from which it could meet the building
construction and fit-out costs for an advance office and permanent office and consequently the Department of Finance and the OPW will have to make provision for this.

3.2 Timing

Indicative timescales for the implementation of decentralisation are contained in Appendix 5. The timing and phasing of moves will be primarily determined by the availability of accommodation and skilled staff. Phasing of staff to the advance office may also have to be considered where the skills transfer requirements are such that more time is required to build up experience.

Business units, such as the Secretariat Unit, have highlighted the importance of maintaining the process flow of the section between the Equality Officer caseworkers and the staff in that unit. Another issue that may impact on the timing of the move is the need to bed down IT systems before the relocation takes place.