Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Kirk for raising this matter. On behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, I wish to reply. The Government's decentralisation programme envisages that the headquarters of the Department of Social and Family Affairs will be relocated to Drogheda, County Louth, together with a number of other public service operations, including, inter alia, Comhairle, Reach, the social and family affairs appeals office and certain maritime elements of the Department of Transport. All told, the total number of posts to be decentralised to Drogheda is approximately 700. These numbers will provide a significant and welcome economic boost to the town of Drogheda.

The Office of Public Works has the task of sourcing suitable property solutions to meet the requirements of the decentralising Departments and agencies throughout the country. The office has made good progress in this regard. To date it has completed or significantly advanced property acquisition negotiations in 23 of the more than 50 locations targeted under the decentralisation programme. Sites for the balance of the decentralisation locations are also being actively pursued by the Office of Public Works.

In the case of Drogheda, the Office of Public Works has identified a number of centrally located sites which meet the criteria of the decentralisation implementation group together with those of the relevant decentralising bodies. These sites are in the ownership of the local authority. Agreement in principle has been reached with the local authority officials for the sale of these sites to the OPW for decentralisation purposes.

Detailed site investigations and archaeological assessments are under way and are expected to be completed shortly. In tandem with the ongoing technical assessments, negotiations on the terms and conditions of sale have commenced with the local authority. Subject to satisfactory terms being agreed and satisfactory outcomes to the technical assessments, the Office of Public Works hopes to be in a position to complete the purchase of the selected sites in the near future. The decentralisation implementation group has set out indicative timescales for the completion of the construction of decentralised offices in the "early mover" locations, which include Drogheda.

The indicative timescale for construction completion in the case of the Department of Social and Family Affairs offices is the first quarter of 2009. For the maritime related bodies, the indicative timescale is the first quarter of 2007. It is important to remember that these timescales are indicative. This reflects the fact that many unforeseen circumstances could impact on these timeframes. However, the Office of Public Works will continue to strive to ensure that the decentralisation plans for Drogheda are implemented within the indicative timescales set out by the decentralisation group.

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