John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 644: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will consider relocating another section of his Department to Clondalkin, Dublin 22, to facilitate staff working in the Irish Prison Service headquarters who were only relocated to Clondalkin three years ago and may now wish to remain working and living in the Clondalkin area. [19593/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Irish Prison Service headquarters is scheduled to move to Longford by the first quarter of 2007 and the question of the continued utilisation of the building in Clondalkin where the service is accommodated is being considered by my Department in conjunction with the Office of Public Works.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 645: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of staff and their grades who have applied for transfer to Longford from the Irish Prison Service headquarters, Clondalkin, Dublin 22; the annual savings anticipated to be made on travel and subsistence expenses being incurred by staff who will be located in Longford and be required to travel to prisons in Dublin and other expenses incurred by staff travelling to Longford from other prisons around the country; and if Longford is regarded as the most central and appropriate location for the Irish Prison Service headquarters. [19594/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The selection of Longford as the location for the headquarters of the Irish Prison Service is a key element in the delivery of the Government's decentralisation programme. The building of the new headquarters will commence later this year and it is hoped that it will be completed on schedule with a view to occupation in early 2007.

Some 20 officers of the Irish Prison Service based at Clondalkin applied to the central applications facility to decentralise to Longford. Grades include principal officers, assistant principal officers, higher executive officers, executive officers, staff officers and clerical officers. In addition, 26 members of general service staff from other areas of my Department have also sought transfer to Longford. Staff from other Departments have sought transfer to Longford via the central applications facility and my Department will liaise with those Departments with a view to facilitating those seeking transfer. I remain confident that any shortfall in numbers will be resolved well in advance of the actual move.

As regards travel, subsistence and other administrative costs which are part of the normal operational expenses of the Irish Prison Service, I see no reason these should be significantly different when the Irish Prison Service headquarters is located in Longford than those which are incurred under the current arrangements.