Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the timescale for the decentralisation of divisions within his Department; the number of civil servants who have signalled their intention to decentralise; the units in which they are currently employed; the units to which they wish to decentralise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26890/05]

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a risk analysis has been undertaken regarding decentralisation in order that expertise achieved in the area of overseas aid will not be lost to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26891/05]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by the advisory board of Development Co-operation Ireland that the decentralisation of DCI to Limerick will undermine the State's aid programme; the progress that has been made to date in the decentralisation of DCI; when the process will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26833/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 41 and 70 together.

Under the Government's decentralisation programme, announced in December 2003, the development co-operation directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, currently based in Dublin, is scheduled to decentralise to Limerick. This will involve the relocation to Limerick of 123 posts and is scheduled to take place during the first quarter of 2007. The Office of Public Works is currently assessing a number of accommodation proposals in Limerick.

The following table sets out details by grade of the applications for posts in Limerick received through the central applications facility, CAF, from staff serving in the directorate, from those serving elsewhere within the Department and from officers of other Departments and offices.

I am aware of the concern expressed by the advisory board for Development Co-operation Ireland about the decentralisation of the directorate to Limerick. Every effort will be made to ensure that the transfer of the directorate to its new location will be as smooth as possible.

A detailed implementation plan has been completed by departmental officials, addressing areas such as risk management, business continuity, human resources, training, knowledge management, premises and information and communications technology facilities. The plan, together with regular updates can be accessed on the Department's website. Already, a total of 26, 21%, posts in the directorate are filled by staff who have expressed an interest in decentralising to Limerick, including seven officers recruited from other Departments via the central applications facility, CAF, and five staff recruited from interdepartmental promotion panels. The process of transferring to the directorate, staff currently serving elsewhere in the Department and of recruiting staff via the central applications facility, will be accelerated in the new year. The aim is that by the second half of 2006 most posts in the directorate will be filled by staff who will decentralise to Limerick.