Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 343: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the issues which have arisen following the risk analysis being conducted on his Department's decentralisation programme; the way in which it is intended to address these issues; the projected cost of resolving these issues; the overall cost of his Department's decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31973/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Government's decentralisation programme the development co-operation directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, 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 decentralisation of the Development Co-operation Directorate will take place during a period of significant growth in the overseas development aid budget. The Taoiseach announced at the UN Millennium Review Summit in New York on 14 September that the Government would reach the target of spending 0.7% of GNP on official development assistance by 2012. Interim targets of 0.47% of GNP in 2006 and 0.5% in 2007 have also been agreed. The 2006 Estimates process is under way and the allocation to the Vote of the Department of Foreign Affairs for international co-operation, Vote 29, will be agreed in the context of the Estimates negotiations. On the basis of anticipated growth rates, total overseas development aid is expected to be of the order of €675 million in 2006 and €793 million in 2007.

Risk analysis carried out by the directorate in this context has identified the following as the main risk factors, for which appropriate risk mitigation strategies are being implemented: financial, including accountability and control; human resources, including loss of expertise and institutional memory; communications between the directorate and internal and external stakeholders; and associated operational and reputational risks. The risks associated with the decentralisation are considered in detail in the Department's decentralisation implementation plan which has been published on the Department's website. www.dfa.ie .

To avoid a high level of staff turnover in the months immediately preceding the decentralisation, the Department commenced importing staff from the central applications facility, CAF, in May 2005. Already, 26 staff for Limerick — 21% — are in place in the directorate and the Department will accelerate the process of importing staff from the CAF from next January onwards, with a view to having as many as possible of the staff in place by the autumn of next year, well in advance of the move.

The Department recognises it is important to take steps to ensure continuity of service to clients and stakeholders, including the NGOs, by minimising the disruption to the directorate. Departmental officials are finalising strategies for the preservation of the corporate memory of the directorate, through the development of effective knowledge management systems and by ensuring the provision of appropriate induction and ongoing training programmes and adequate hand-over periods for new staff. High quality communications facilities between the directorate in Limerick and the rest of the Department and missions will also be provided.

The Office of Public Works, OPW, is responsible for the provision of office accommodation for the directorate in Limerick and will bear its rental costs. The Department is working closely with the OPW to identify suitable accommodation in Limerick and it is hoped to select a premises in the very near future. Pending this, it is not possible to estimate the level of costs which the Department will incur in the provision of the information and communications technology infrastructure and in other areas. Salary and training costs, which can be attributed to the decentralisation programme, are estimated at €550,000 for the three-year period March 2004 to March 2007.