Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 408: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the assessment of the financial implications of decentralisation which have been carried out and, in particular, if the financial implications of the cost of training and additional staff during the on-the-job training in period; the cost of new recruitment to meet gaps in suitable applicants for the decentralised location; the cost of additional promotions to fill the positions required; if the cost of delays in redeploying staff which opt not to move with their post and cost of retraining and redeployment have been identified in respect of the proposed moves (details supplied). [32599/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In respect of the decentralisation of Enterprise Ireland headquarters, including 300 staff, to Shannon, the agency has identified the posts to be transferred and these are advertised as part of the central applications facility, CAF. The most immediate implementation step for Enterprise Ireland is to provide for a new headquarters building designed to meet the business needs of the organisation. Working closely with the OPW, a preferred site, a 13 acre site owned by Shannon Development, has been identified. The site was valued and a feasibility study carried out. When approval is received to proceed with its accommodation arrangements under decentralisation, Enterprise Ireland will undertake a detailed planning process in relation to staffing issues and the costs involved.

In respect of the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, the Office of Public Works is in the process of acquiring a site in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, which will be suitable for the office accommodation requirements of the authority. As this process, including the planning, construction and office fit-out, will form a significant part of the overall costs of decentralisation, my Department is not in a position to give the full estimated cost of the financial implications involved. It is not possible at this stage to put an overall cost on the staffing and training issues associated with decentralisation. Much will depend on the final number of staff who opt to transfer and the arrangements that will be necessary to put in place for the authority to continue to carry out its statutory remit.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 409: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the audit committee of his Department or its agencies have reviewed the risk management assessment of the proposed decentralisation proposals (details supplied); if it has approved the assessment or made recommendations for revising the risk assessment or changing the proposed risk mitigation strategies. [32607/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department and the decentralising agencies under the aegis of my Department have completed a risk assessment exercise to assess direct and indirect risks, threats to and opportunities for the synergies between my Department and its agencies following decentralisation. Both Enterprise Ireland and the Health and Safety Authority have undertaken separate risk assessments within their own organisations to identify possible issues with regard to their own operations. In the case of Enterprise Ireland, following notification of the Government decision on decentralisation to Enterprise Ireland, the board of Enterprise Ireland received and noted a preliminary risk assessment of the implications of decentralisation for the agency. When approval is received to proceed with the agency's accommodation arrangements under decentralisation, a further risk assessment may be carried out, based on the situation then pertaining.

With regard to the Health and Safety Authority, the authority has carried out a detailed risk assessment in regard to decentralisation. This assessment, which is set out in the decentralisation implementation plan submitted by the HSA to the decentralisation implementation group, DIG, includes plans to ensure vital national services are maintained during the transition period. This plan was considered and approved by the board of the HSA. The decentralisation implementation plan is revised on a periodic basis and the risk assessment is reviewed during this process having regard to developments that have taken place in the interim. The plan submitted by the authority is available for viewing on its website, www.hsa.ie.

To maintain a detailed record of the cost of implementing the decentralisation programme, the authority has set up a specific accounting process that will track all costs associated with decentralisation. This will be subject to audit on an ongoing basis by both the HSA's internal auditors and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.