Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Finance if the 300 Ordnance Survey Ireland office jobs promised for decentralisation to Dungarvan, County Waterford in budget 2004 includes the 100 jobs in the six regional offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1585/05]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 373: To ask the Minister for Finance his proposals to open an advance office for 20 or more staff of Ordnance Survey Ireland in Dungarvan, County Waterford to begin the process of decentralising the promised 300 Ordnance Survey Ireland jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1586/05]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is aware that some staff members of Ordnance Survey Ireland purchased houses in the Dungarvan, County Waterford area following indications that an advance office for 20 or more staff would be set up in the town as a forerunner to the decentralisation of the full 300 jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1587/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 372 to 374, inclusive, together.

In reply to a parliamentary question on 4 February 2004, my predecessor stated that approximately 210 staff based in Dublin would decentralise to Dungarvan, County Waterford. The relocation of Ordnance Survey Ireland, OSI, to Dungarvan will not affect its existing regional offices.

The outline implementation plan prepared by OSI in June 2004 stated that it would be preferable to establish an advance office prior to decentralisation. The data from the central application facility, CAF, published in September 2004 indicated that there are 15 members of the staff of OSI who have applied to decentralise and 47 expressions of interest for decentralisation to Dungarvan. In November, the decentralisation implementation group, DIG, published its list of "early movers". This list, which was accepted by Government, does not include OSI. It is expected that a further report will issue from the group in spring 2005 dealing with all remaining locations, including Dungarvan. The issue of a possible advance office in Dungarvan will be considered in the light of that report.

The purchase of property in any location by individual staff members is a matter for themselves, having regard to published information on the decentralisation programme.