Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

My Department is transferring its headquarters to Knock Airport and 13 posts to Na Forbacha. Seven Na Forbacha posts are in place and it is expected that the remaining posts will be filled by the end of 2006. My Department is scheduled to complete its move to Knock Airport by the end of 2007. It is also planned to relocate up to 70 posts in advance of the main move subject, inter alia, to the availability of suitable temporary accommodation in the general area. The Office of Public Works is seeking to source suitable accommodation and I hope that this advance move can take place from mid-2006.

Currently some 26 members of staff have indicated a willingness to transfer to Knock Airport. Additional staff are transferring into my Department from other Dublin Departments for decentralisation. In addition, a large number of applicants who are currently decentralised wish to transfer to my Department. With all of those staff, and with the adoption of appropriate HR and risk management responses, I believe I will have sufficient applicants to fill all posts, both for the advance move and for the next phase of my Department's decentralisation programme, namely, the relocation to the new permanent headquarters building.

The following is a breakdown of staff currently serving in the Department who have committed to decentralise to Knock Airport.

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