Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The major move in the right direction for all of us in the west was to have the Department relocated to the west. While some people may have expected me to succumb to the temptation, when decentralisation was mooted, to move my Department to County Galway, I had a clear view that, other than the Gaeltacht sections, departmental offices should be located in the region of Knock Airport. This was done for strategic reasons and to make a clear statement of the importance of the airport, which is located at the crossroads of Connacht, the point at which the N5 and N17 intersect. I am very committed to the project. Perhaps it is my east coast upbringing but the most important issue is to ensure these offices move to the region. Whether they are five or ten miles up the road is not a crucial issue.

As the selection of accommodation is a matter for the Office of Public Works, the Deputy should address questions on that issue to my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Martin Mansergh. At present, the Department has temporary accommodation in Tubbercurry and staff have moved to the west. The building in question has been leased until 2012 which means there is a commitment to that location for that timeframe. I hope we will have a permanent headquarters by the time the lease expires.

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