Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government's decentralisation programme was announced on 3 December 2003. The relocation of the Central Fisheries Board to Carrick-on-Shannon is included in the programme. The decentralisation of the board involves relocating 62 posts to Carrick-on-Shannon. Progress to date on that front is that 20 staff have been recruited to posts relocating since the announcement of the programme and that some 20 staff have a relocation clause in their employment contract.

The other major element of the decentralisation programme relates to accommodation. While accommodation and property issues related to the decentralisation programme are matters for the Office of Public Works, I understand from the Central Fisheries Board's ongoing liaison with the OPW that a suitable accommodation solution for the board has not yet been identified in Carrick-on-Shannon.

On the Central Fisheries Board's former and current premises, I confirm that, as advised previously to the House, relocating the staff of the board from Glasnevin was due to inadequacies in the premises on health and safety grounds. No decision has been made as of yet as to the disposal of the Glasnevin premises when vacant. The rent paid by the board is a day-to-day operational matter for the board. I have no function in that regard.

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