Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 508: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the assessments of the financial implications of decentralisation which have been carried out and, in particular, the financial implications of the cost of training and additional staff during the on-the-job training 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 who opt not to move with their post and cost of retraining and redeployment have been identified in respect of the proposed moves (details supplied). [32598/05]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 509: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 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 any recommendations for revising the risk assessment or changing the proposed risk mitigation strategies. [32606/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 508 and 509 together.

An in-depth assessment of the financial implications is an integral part of the decentralisation process. To this end, it has been agreed centrally that each Department and organisation will identify and monitor the types of incremental non-property costs and savings associated with the Government's decentralisation programme during the relocation and transition phases of the programme as well as during the post-decentralisation phase.

This assessment encompasses all of the possible activities the Deputy has outlined such as training, recruitment and redeployment. As regards the agencies referred to by the Deputy, the costs to date have been fully monitored but they have been limited so far to some additional training, administration and management functions which the agencies have found it necessary to introduce to bring the programme forward. Every effort will be made to minimise the costs and maximise the savings as the decentralisation programme is rolled out.

The analysis of the financial implications of decentralisation is also being used as an important tool to assist in the ongoing work of risk identification and mitigation which is being carried out by each agency. As the Deputy will be aware, their risk assessments and risk responses are set out in some detail in each of the agencies' decentralisation implementation plans which are published on my Department's website.

All the risk mitigation strategies in relation to decentralisation will be taken into account within the overall framework of the risk assessment and management process which forms a permanent part of my Department's corporate governance arrangements. In that context, a high level corporate risk register is being compiled and the audit committee in my Department, which is independent, may in due course review the decentralisation risk assessments and strategies in the light of the audit work which will need to be carried out in respect of the risk management process as a whole.