Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the situation regarding the decentralisation of jobs to Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, and to Sligo; the timetable for decentralisation to Carrick-on-Shannon and Sligo; and the number of persons who have applied for each centre. [5753/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Government decentralisation programme announced as part of budget 2004, my Department is required to relocate 100 posts to Sligo and 225 posts to Carrick-on-Shannon. According to figures received by my Department from the central applications facility the number of applicants for Sligo and Carrick-on-Shannon is 69 and 280 respectively. These figures represent applications made through the central applications facility before the priority application date of 7 September 2004.

The decentralisation implementation group report to the Minister for Finance of 19 November 2004 made recommendations on the locations and organisations to be included in the first phase of moves. In the case of my Department, Sligo was included in the first phase of moves and Carrick-on-Shannon was recommended as a potential location for an early move. The estimated date given in the report for the completion of building works in Sligo is the third quarter of 2006 and in Carrick-on-Shannon the second quarter of 2007.

The Office of Public Works has been charged with securing suitable accommodation in the decentralised locations. It has confirmed to my Department that the planned extension to the pension services office in Sligo will accommodate staff relocating under the decentralisation programme. It is expected that the contractors will be on site by mid-year, with completion scheduled for early 2007.

In the meantime, my Department has initiated plans, subject to the availability of suitable temporary accommodation, to relocate the supplementary welfare allowance section to Sligo this year. The Office of Public Works is in the process of identifying suitable accommodation in Carrick-on-Shannon. Detailed plans, including timescales, will be completed once a site has been procured.