Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the breakdown of his Departmental staff; the location of each of the offices of his Department and the number of staff based in each; the number attached to each Minister or Minister of State within his Department in regard to private office and constituency office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12476/08]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The total staff complement for my Department is 269. The breakdown of staff by location is as follows: Dublin, 119; Tubbercurry, 79; Galway, 58; and other locations, including Donegal, Athlone and Cavan, 13. A total of 15 staff are assigned to the Minister, including ten in the private office and five in the constituency office. A total of 7.4 staff are assigned to my office, including 3.6 in the private office and 3.8 in the constituency office. Two civilian drivers are also assigned to me as Minister of State.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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On the decentralisation of the Department, what is the position on Tubbercurry vis-À-vis the move to Knock? How many existing staff have agreed to move to Knock? What is the cost of leasing the premises in Tubbercurry? If the premises on Mespil Road is leased by the Department, what does it cost?

Bearing in mind that Deputy Ring is from Mayo, we must all be pragmatic. It beggars belief how we will create transport links between Dublin and the locations of the decentralised staff. Knock has an airport but does not have a railway station, the nearest of which is in Claremorris. Bus and taxi transport must be factored into the cost. Is it realistic to decentralise staff to Knock as a consequence? Newbridge in my county is on a rail line and there is, therefore, logic to decentralising staff there, but I cannot see the logic in transferring staff to Knock. The transport problems associated with Tubbercurry must be causing major problems in the Department in terms of ensuring continuity.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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On decentralisation generally, the Office of Public Works, on behalf of the Department, will shortly be applying for planning permission for a new site in Charlestown in County Mayo. The staff currently located in Tubbercurry will relocate to that premises on its completion, which will be in 2010, all going well.

Non-property costs mentioned over the period 2004 to 2007 cover ICT and logistical support. The main costs of the Office of Public Works include the cost of the original site at the airport at Knock, that is, €390,000, and the rental and fit-out costs at Tubbercurry and Na Forbacha. It is expected that the additional costs will be a fraction of those incurred to date. At this stage, the Department is not in a position to be more specific.

Of the 144 posts to be relocated to Charlestown, 79 have been assigned to temporary offices in Tubbercurry as a precursor to the move to the new headquarters, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010. The Tubbercurry offices opened in July 2006. Additional temporary accommodation is now being refurbished in Tubbercurry to allow us to further advance the decentralisation programme. From mid-May, over 100 staff will be relocated there, that is, some 74% of the original target. All ten posts to be relocated to Na Forbacha are now assigned. On Pobal, 42 posts have been moved to temporary offices in Clifden. The full complement will be relocated when Pobal's permanent offices are completed in Clifden, which is expected in 2009. The Office of Public Works has identified a suitable site there.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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What is the position on Mespil Road? Is it leased or owned?

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As far as I know it is leased, but I will confirm that.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am glad about the developments in Charlestown but I am disappointment they have not occurred sooner.

Deputy Wall referred to transport. Mayo County Council has bypassed Ballaghaderreen but the western rail corridor——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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That is beyond the scope of the question.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It concerns transport——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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It is a statistical question.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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If we could have the western rail corridor extended to Charlestown, it would make a massive difference to employees being located there. I read in the local press that the site has been bought in Charlestown. Can the Minister of State confirm this?

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Bhí an tAire chun tagairt a dhéanamh d'Fhoras na Gaeilge ina fhreagra. B'fhéidir go ndéanfaidh sé méadú ar sin agus go n-inseoidh sé dúinn cad é atá beartaithe de bharr dílárú Fhoras na Gaeilge go dtí Tír Chonaill agus Gaoth Dobhair. Tá seo ag dul ar aghaidh le fada. An bhfuil aon dul chun cinn déanta agus an bhfuil aon scéal ag an Aire inniu?

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Progress has been a little slower in respect of Foras na Gaeilge. Partly due to the fact that it is a North-South implementation body, it was necessary to secure the agreement of our Northern counterparts to the move. However, we now hope to see the start of the relocation process later this year, with possibly up to 20%, or just seven, of the targeted posts earmarked for relocation. The building owned by Údarás na Gaeltachta in Gaoth Dobhair is available for the staff of Foras na Gaeilge.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Seven posts this year.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I hope they will be relocated this year.

The site in Charlestown depends on planning permission being secured successfully.