Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 8: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the decentralisation programme of his Department; if the current relocation is operating efficiently and effectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28757/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department's headquarters are scheduled to decentralise to Charlestown, County Mayo, under the decentralisation programme. To date, 100 staff have moved to interim accommodation in Tubbercurry, County Sligo, where a significant number of the business units of my Department, including the full rural, community and financial business units, are now operating efficiently and effectively in two properties, which are being leased by the OPW on behalf of my Department.

In December 2009, in light of budgetary constraints and affordability issues, the Minister for Finance decided to defer proceeding with permanent accommodation in Charlestown at this time.

This location, along with four other deferred projects, will be considered as part of an overall review of the decentralisation programme in 2011. The Deputy will also be aware that under the decentralisation programme, ten staff of my Department were due to decentralise to Na Forbacha, County Galway, and I can confirm that this process has now been completed.

With regard to bodies funded from my Department's Vote group, I can advise that in line with the decentralisation programme, 25 staff have relocated with Pobal to offices in Clifden, County Galway; Foras na Gaeilge is in the process of relocating five staff to Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal; 16 staff have decentralised to offices in Roscrea, County Tipperary, with the Equality Authority; and ten staff have relocated to interim accommodation in Portlaoise, County Laois, with the Equality Tribunal, which is due to relocate to Portarlington, County Laois. Each of these projects will be considered further as part of the overall review of the decentralisation programme in 2011.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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It seems the Department is so fragmented now it will be difficult to take in all the elements. We see some sections of the Department of Social Protection working well in Sligo and Letterkenny, etc. The big question is whether it is feasible that the Department, given the fragmentation outlined by the Minister, can work as cohesively as those sections in the Department of Social Protection. In the development of the Department, how do the staff involved travel from Tubbercurry or the seven areas mentioned by the Minister? Is that an extra cost on the Department that would not be there under normal circumstances?

I get wonderful service from the Department of Social Protection in Longford, Sligo and Letterkenny and I could have no crib about the way the system works. Can the Minister's Department work under similar circumstances? The Department of Social Protection deals mainly in payments but the Minister's Department is different as it deals with development programmes and there would be a greater number of meetings. The Minister and Minister of State can outline these issues.

I am considering staff efficiency so does the Minister feel the decentralisation exercise will be a success? I agree with the theme of decentralisation. Does the Minister, having been in office for a period, agree with me? Does he envisage any problems or know of existing problems? As the process has stalled, can something be done before we move the sections to their final positions?

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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We are a small Department, although it has increased in size - more or less doubling - over the past number of weeks. Much has been done in the Department to make it lean and efficient, and one of the most progressive aspects has been the Department's investment in ICT. Most meetings are conducted through video conferencing, with officials, the Minister of State and I conducting many meetings, including those with delegations, through video conferencing. There is little travel involved, although it happens from time to time when senior officials in a unit may come to Dublin or travel from Tubbercurry to Na Forbacha.

By and large, most of the work is conducted using video conferencing which I encourage other Departments to adopt if they work from dispersed locations throughout the country. Both the Minister of State, Deputy White, and I have been impressed at the capacity to conduct very effective meetings in that way.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The decentralisation programme outlined by the Minister and commented on by Deputy Wall is farcical. There is a development in Kiltimagh and I ask the Minister to look at that facility to see if it is suitable for decentralisation, even on a short-term basis, until the site in Charlestown has been bought and developed with the required planning permission.

The Minister has said there is no cost factor but there must be a cost for the renting of property and bringing staff from all the different parts of the country. I ask the Minister to look at the site in Kiltamagh in County Mayo and try to bring all staff into one location. Much State investment has gone into the site, although it is owned by a private company, IRD. It is prepared to rent it or give it to the State on the basis that the State would maintain it just to get jobs into County Mayo. Will the Minister consider having a look at the site?

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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That is an invitation.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the property mentioned by Deputy Ring and he is probably aware of the correspondence between myself and the property owners involved. I do not want to raise false hopes as that would be unfair. We believe that pending the outcome of the review of the future development of decentralisation, what is available to us in Tubbercurry is very cost-effective and I can give the Deputy and the House full details of the precise cost of each location. I assure Deputies costs are kept to an absolute minimum and it is a lesson in how cost effectively a Department can be run, either in a Dublin location or elsewhere.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Does Deputy Wall want ten seconds to ask a question? If he were sitting here he would say the same to me.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I sat down one night because the Chairman told me I only had ten seconds in which to speak. I said I would not waste time on the matter.

Where is the final resting place of the Minister of State, Deputy White, in the Department? Where does she operate from and have all the t's been crossed and i's dotted in the change in the Department taking in responsibility for equality affairs from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform?

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The question is where is the Minister of State's resting place. I do not know if that is what the Deputy meant.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy White, understands the tone of the question.

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The new Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs is based on Mespil Road and the Deputy is very welcome to visit it. I am based there in a wonderful Department and we are all in one place, having moved from the relevant sections in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. We have a new Minister in Deputy Carey, a new Secretary General and I am new in the position as Minister of State so we are now complete. That is where we are currently operating.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish the Minister of State well.