Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress made to date in relation to the decentralisation of Government Departments and associated agencies to Drogheda, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23767/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Three Ministers have responsibility for offices decentralising to Drogheda. These are the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Social and Family Affairs. The Ministers for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Environment, Heritage and Local Government will answer in respect of their own areas of responsibility. I will answer on behalf of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. The headquarters of the Department of Social and Family Affairs, REACH and Comhairle are to relocate to Drogheda, County Louth.

I understand from the Department of Social and Family Affairs that 213 staff of the Department have applied through the Central Applications Facility, CAF, to relocate to Drogheda. However, no formal offers have yet been made.

Comhairle will transfer a total of 47.5 posts to Drogheda. Some 14 of Comhairle's staff applied through the CAF to relocate with Comhairle. Comhairle has not as yet made formal offers to any of these staff. REACH will transfer to Drogheda with 11 posts. No assignments have been made yet.

With reference to accommodation, agreement in principle has been reached on a site on local authority owned lands and detailed negotiations are progressing in tandem with site investigations.