Some 95 of 110 staff (approximately 86 per cent) at the Health and Safety Authority's head office in Dublin do not want to move to Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, as proposed in the Government's decentralisation plan, it has emerged.
The HSA's chief executive, Mr Tom Beegan, said yesterday that just 15 people had indicated a willingness to move.
Speaking at an event to mark the publication of the HSA's annual report for 2003, Mr Beegan said the proposal that the HSA be decentralised to Thomastown had come as a surprise to staff.
He said people working for the body obviously had certain career plans mapped out for themselves and plans for their families.
Mr Beegan added that clarification was needed about how the online application system for public servants would operate for those who wished to stay in Dublin.
The OPW is currently looking at four sites in Thomastown and is in negotiations to acquire one for the HSA.
Mr Beegan said the lease on the building currently occupied by the HSA in Dublin expires in late 2006 and that this, along with 5 per cent turnover of staff each year, had to be taken into account in planning.
Asked about the potential for the loss of expertise within the body, Mr Beegan said the move was something that had to be managed "very carefully".
The HSA is currently implementing a reorganisation plan, including changes to management structures. Last year saw the successful completion of the first phase, but decentralisation is likely to have a major impact on its implementation.
The HSA employs 164 staff as inspectors, professional specialists and in administrative and clerical support roles, of which 100 are inspectors.
Much of its resources are employed in bringing prosecutions against companies for breaches of health and safety legislation. Inspectors also carry out a lot of work on construction sites in Dublin.
The Minister of State for Labour Affairs, Mr Frank Fahey, who was presented with the annual report yesterday, said anybody who did not wish to transfer would not be forced to do so. But he reiterated the position on decentralisation.
"It's Government policy and Government policy will have to be adhered to."
On the annual report, Mr Fahey said he welcomed the work done by the HSA last year in the construction and farming sectors.
However, he said there needed to be a "more aggressive" approach to establishing why there continued to be accidents in those sectors. He said he had personal experience of dealing with people who had suffered farm accidents in their families. "They are tragic and they are avoidable," he said.
Mr Fahey said cases had to be brought to court more quickly and that there had to be more meaningful explanations about why these accidents happen and what can be done to prevent them.
Mr Fahey confirmed that the Cabinet yesterday approved a draft of new health and safety legislation which will allow for fines of up to €3 million for breaches of the law. He said the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004 will be published within the week.
The HSA said yesterday it hoped to establish a specialist investigation unit by September. This will deal with fatalities and serious occurrences and will be an expert "fast response" team in such cases.
In 2003, the body launched major campaigns in the farming and construction sectors.