Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Question 472: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding decentralisation to Tipperary town, including details of the Department and the number of staff going to Tipperary; the number of staff who have indicated a willingness to move there; the categories of those members of staff; the details of the effects to date to secure a site or building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25299/04]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 494 together.

As announced by my colleague the Minister for Finance on 3 December 2003, the Office of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal and the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner will be partially decentralised to Tipperary town together with other staff from the asylum area. It is anticipated that 186 staff will decentralise to Tipperary town. It is envisaged decentralisation will not take place before the summer of 2006.

The Office of Public Works has evaluated 18 proposals for sites or buildings in Tipperary town and two sites in the town centre were short-listed. These two sites are undergoing further evaluation. Based on the decentralisation central applications facility data of 7 September 2004, seven employees of my Department with 123 other civil servants and three public servants have nominated Tipperary town as their first preference. As the Deputy will be aware, the CAF continues to be open for the receipt of applications until such time as the decentralisation programme has been implemented in full.