AQW 39023/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 19/11/2014
Answered On Date: 19/12/2014
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of the Environment for an update, including the timescale, on any guarantee of assurance that he has received from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea that it will contribute to an early-exit scheme for employers which may provide previous Driver and Vehicle Agency workers from Coleraine with civil service employment in the North West.

Answer:

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has agreed to contribute financially to the NICS Administrative Assistant (AA) and Administrative Officer (AO) (Restricted Locations) Voluntary Exit Scheme which was launched on Wednesday 19 November 2014.

The purpose of the Scheme is to clear the DVA surplus at AA and AO grades within the designated area defined in the Scheme Notice, either directly by releasing eligible surplus DVA staff or indirectly by releasing eligible non-DVA surplus staff where this creates a suitable vacancy into which a DVA surplus can be permanently redeployed.

The Scheme will therefore provide opportunities for any remaining surplus DVA staff who do not leave the Service under the terms of the scheme to be permanently redeployed into NICS posts within the designated area which includes the North West.

The closing date for eligible staff to submit a formal application to exit under the Scheme is Wednesday 7 January 2015.