Corporate Services Division
Head of Division: Denis Maher, Principal Officer
Functions of Division
Corporate Services Division manages the accommodation, health and safety, services invoice processing (Purchase to Pay) and the international travel desk functions of the Department.
Accommodation
The Department’s staff are accommodated in three locations:
- The HQ building at 29/31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2 (leased)
- Tom Johnson House, Beggars Bush, Haddington Road (State owned)
- Elm House, Cavan (leased)
There is also a leased facility for the storage of rock core samples (Geological Survey of Ireland) at Sandyford Industrial Estate.
Value for Money
The achievement of best value for money across all areas of expenditure in the Corporate Services area is a key objective of the Division. To this end CSD:
- Oversees and implements cost reduction and value for money analyses in areas of expenditure that can yield greater efficiencies and economies.
- Is expanding on and implementing, where feasible, proposals contained in the Department’s Action Plan drawn up under the Public Service Agreement 2010 – 2014. This may include rationalisation of existing contracts and possible consolidation of those contracts as they come up for review and renewal.
Significant savings have been achieved in recent years across a wide range of services as a result of proactive examination of existing contracts and in obtaining improved terms when renewing contracts.
Decentralisation Programme
As part of the Government’s 2003 decentralisation plans the Department’s headquarters, including Communications, Energy and Natural Resources functions, was earmarked to move to Cavan by 2010. Following a Government decision in October 2008 the process was put on hold pending a review of the programme due to be conducted in 2011. There is an advance party of some 50 staff currently based in temporary accommodation in Cavan. They are primarily carrying out corporate support and co-ordination functions.