Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding efforts to decentralise his Department to Cavan town; if a site has been purchased to provide office accommodation; the number of persons who have applied to move to Cavan; when staff will be in place and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31475/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The acquisition of sites and procurement of property for decentralisation are matters dealt with by the Office of Public Works. Interaction with the OPW on these elements is well established in my Department, informed by site visits and a thorough ongoing consultative process. The latest report from the OPW indicated that negotiations on the purchase of a suitable site in Cavan are progressing. My Department has already provided an outline specification of our accommodation requirements to the Office of Public Works and will provide a detailed brief when required by the OPW.

The latest information from the Public Appointments Service is that 171 expressions of interest have been received for 378 Department posts in Cavan. The process of reassigning Department staff who made a CAF application to relocate with the Department to Clonakilty, Drogheda or Cavan is under way. In addition, in line with the centrally agreed protocols contact has been made by my Department with relevant Departments regarding their staff who wish to move with the Department to these decentralised locations. The Department's move to Cavan is scheduled to take place at the end of 2009. Arrangements to have staff in place and operational in line with that schedule will continue to be progressed.