Joe Walsh (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing this important question to be addressed in the House tonight. I also thank the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, for taking the question.

Clonakilty in County Cork was identified as the location for the decentralisation of Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in the first week of December 2003. Two years later, not a stroke has been struck in Clonakilty with regard to this matter. All of 2004 was spent in reconnoitring the town. Eventually, in May 2005, a site was acquired. An advertisement appeared in 2004 asking for expressions of interest to construct office accommodation for this proposed decentralisation and, to date, no tendering arrangements have been put in place.

My problem is that 215 people volunteered to go to Cork, of their own volition and without any arm twisting. These people, along with their parents, are now making representations to me seeking to find out when the new office accommodation will be available. I have made representations a number of times on this matter.

In one such representation, I received a reply from the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, dated 25 August 2005 stating that "subject to agreement of the briefs, the OPW expects to be in a position to invite tenders in the next few weeks". I then received a letter from the same Minister of State on 11 October stating that:

[I]n relation to BIM, the OPW recently met with representatives of BIM with a view to finalising their brief of requirements. The OPW is pressing for an early resolution of the matter and subject to agreements we will then be able to go to tender.

I then decided to table a parliamentary question to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. I received a reply in Question No. 432 of 18 October stating:

I expect consultation between the Department, BIM and the OPW, on the fit out and design elements in each organisation's specification, to get under way shortly[.]

In other words, nothing has happened.

I want the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to tell me when this procrastination and vacillation will stop. As for the people who have volunteered to return to their roots in west Cork, can they be given any hope, or is this all a mirage? I want a definite and specific commitment that the 215 staff from the Department of Communications, the Marine and Natural Resources and Bord Iascaigh Mhara who have volunteered to go to Clonakilty will be accommodated there. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply on this matter.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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On behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, who has special responsibility for the Office of Public Works, I thank Deputy Walsh for giving me the opportunity to outline the position regarding the office accommodation for the decentralisation of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Bord Iascaigh Mhara to Clonakilty in County Cork. I acknowledge the absolute commitment of Deputy Walsh to the decentralisation project to Clonakilty and his constant representations in that respect, particularly on behalf of those people who have indicated their willingness to decentralise. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, has apologised for not being present but had a prior engagement in County Westmeath which was arranged some weeks ago. My understanding is that he has communicated this information to Deputy Walsh.

As the Deputy is aware, a site has been acquired by the OPW at Clonakilty for the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Bord Iascaigh Mhara. It is proposed to provide accommodation for 124 staff of the Department and accommodation for 97 staff, including three local staff, for Bord Iascaigh Mhara. The OPW has agreed the brief of requirements with the Department. A number of issues were raised at a recent meeting between the OPW and Bord Iascaigh Mhara and these issues are being examined.

Deputy Walsh should be aware that Bord Iascaigh Mhara requires significant on-site storage facilities. The OPW is carrying out an implementation study to ascertain how these facilities can best be accommodated on the site. It expects to have this work completed within a week.

Bord Iascaigh Mhara raised the question of providing crèche facilities. The provision of such facilities at decentralised offices was dealt with by the implementation group in its report of June 2004. It recommended that crèche facilities are a matter for the relevant Department to pursue given its own requirements and facilities available in the locality. Bord Iascaigh Mhara is also seeking to have its existing sea food development centre increased in size and officials in the OPW are in consultation with Bord Iascaigh Mhara on this matter.

It is the intention of the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, to meet members of the board of Bord Iascaigh Mhara on 25 October to discuss the matter further and the OPW intends pressing to have all issues resolved by the end of October 2005. Subject to such resolution, the OPW would be in a position to invite tenders before the end of November 2005.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Is Deputy Walsh any wiser after that?