Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 404: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of and progress made in the planned decentralisation of Enterprise Ireland staff to Shannon, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19135/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the decentralisation programme, the Government decided that the headquarters of Enterprise Ireland, including 300 posts, would relocate to Shannon. Enterprise Ireland identified the posts to be transferred and these were advertised as part of the central applications facility, CAF, at its launch in May 2004. As requested by the Department of Finance, Enterprise Ireland prepared with assistance from Shannon Development an information pack on the Shannon area. The pack includes information on a number of topics such as transport systems, business facilities, accommodation, education facilities and sports and leisure facilities in Shannon. Enterprise Ireland nominated a senior manager to participate in the group established within my Department to oversee the implementation of the decentralisation decision.

Enterprise Ireland prepared and submitted to the decentralisation implementation group an implementation plan setting out the agency's proposed approach to implementing the Government's decision. Between 2 and 4 June 2004, Mr. Frank Ryan, chief executive of Enterprise Ireland, visited the Limerick and Shannon areas for an extended series of meetings with Shannon Development, local authorities, city and county enterprise boards, representative bodies, third level institutions and client companies.

The most immediate implementation step for Enterprise Ireland has been to provide for a new headquarters building designed to meet the business needs of the organisation. Working closely with the OPW, Enterprise Ireland reviewed the submissions received by the OPW on the Shannon location and used the OPW evaluation model to rank expressions of interest. The preferred site which has now been identified is a 13 acre site owned by Shannon Development. Following the Enterprise Ireland evaluation process, OPW reviewed the process and visited the site and they concur with the evaluation. In co-operation with Shannon Development and the OPW, the site was valued and a feasibility study carried out. The site occupies a prime position near the centre of Shannon and is considered suitable for a major landmark building or civic structure related to the town centre.