Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 434: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the percentage of staff in his Department who have expressed an interest in moving to Donegal town under the decentralisation programme; and if he considers this percentage high enough to necessitate a move in the short to medium term. [19282/05]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 435: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the percentage of staff in his Department who have expressed an interest in moving to Buncrana under the decentralisation programme; and if he considers this percentage high enough to necessitate a move in the short to medium term. [19283/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 435 together.

Under the Government decentralisation programme announced as part of budget 2004, the Department is to relocate 230 posts to Donegal and 120 posts to Buncrana. According to figures received by the Department from the central applications facility, CAF, the number of applicants for Donegal and Buncrana is 104 and 35, respectively. The figures for the numbers of employees who have applied and are currently serving in the Department are 40 for Donegal and 17 for Buncrana. These figures represent applications made through CAF before the priority application date of 7 September 2004.

There are a total of six locations to which my Department will be relocating posts under the programme. The sequence and timing of these moves will depend on a number of factors and the decentralisation implementation group, DIG, established by the government will have a central role in determining this. The DIG has submitted a report on this matter to the Minister for Finance in November 2004 and a further report is currently being prepared. The timing of the moves involved in the overall programme will be determined in the light of that report.

My Department is currently reviewing its implementation plan for the initial phase of decentralisation and will examine subsequent phases in the light of this and of the next DIG report. I am committed to delivering on the decentralisation programme for my Department, including the moves to Donegal and Buncrana.