Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Can the Minister say how many people worked in Irish Aid in Dublin before decentralisation? Is this how many people are to decentralise to Limerick? The Minister said 57 members of staff have moved so far and I think more than 30 of these either worked in the Department of Foreign Affairs or Irish Aid. How many people will work in the Limerick office if this operation ever comes to an end and how many of them will have previously worked in the Department of Foreign Affairs? I listened to the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, speak of the evaluation and audit unit and the expertise it had. It consisted of ten personnel, five of whom worked in the audit unit. Of the ten in the evaluation and audit unit, how many previously worked in the section? I am concerned that expertise is being lost in an area that has grown in importance due to increased funding.

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