Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 48: To ask the Minister for Defence the situation in relation to plans to decentralise his Department; the number of applications regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32007/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government decision on decentralisation announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget Statement on 3 December 2003 provides for the transfer of my Department's Dublin based Civil Service staff to Newbridge, County Kildare. The number of staff to be relocated to Newbridge is 202.

While the Office of Public Works has identified a suitable site in Newbridge for the Department's new headquarters, negotiations on the acquisition of the site have not yet been completed. For this reason it is not possible to give a firm date for the move. Every effort is being made to expedite the process. A total of 385 personnel, of whom 59 are currently serving in the Department, have volunteered to relocate to Newbridge.