David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 76: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress that has been made in the decentralisation of State agencies to Youghal; the number of posts to be decentralised to this location; the number of personnel identified and willing to move to Youghal; if he has secured suitable accommodation in this location for decentralisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13423/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As part of the overall decentralisation programme it is intended that 100 staff of the Valuation Office and 100 staff of the Public Appointments Service will be decentralised to Youghal, County Cork. Planning for the move is ongoing in both offices and in the Office of Public Works, which is dealing with accommodation procurement issues. Both organisations have published outline implementation plans in accordance with the recommendations of the decentralisation implementation group, DIG.

The data from the central applications facility, CAF, published in September showed that a total of 28 persons have applied for decentralisation with the Valuation Office. A total of 88 persons have applied for decentralisation with the Public Appointments Service. The majority of these applicants are from staff not currently employed by these offices.

Senior management from both offices have visited Youghal to inspect a number of potential sites for a new building. These sites are currently being evaluated for suitability and negotiations will open shortly with the vendors. No further information is available at this time on the procurement details because of their commercially sensitive nature.

In November, the DIG published its list of "early movers" and this list, which was accepted by Government, does not include either the Valuation Office or the Public Appointments Service. It is expected that a further report will issue from the DIG dealing with all remaining locations, including Youghal.