Department employees on the move

THE process of transferring functions, currently the responsibility of Department of Agriculture and Food divisions in Dublin, to Portlaoise will start shortly.

The move results from the introduction of the single farm payment and is part of the department’s overall decentralisation process.

Minister Joe Walsh said yesterday some 50 staff will be located to Portlaoise in the coming weeks, bringing the total complement in the town to almost 300. Further transfers will continue on a phased basis until the total reaches 650.