Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his proposals to relocate the highly successful and efficient Finglas unit of his Department to new offices in Carrick-on-Shannon in view of the strongly stated opinion that the unit's efficiency is due in great part to its proximity to the courts and to the State's legal services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35028/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the Government's decentralisation programme all headquarters staff of my Department are due to relocate to six locations throughout the country — Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon, Drogheda, Buncrana, Donegal and Carrickmacross. My Department has submitted implementation plans to the decentralisation implementation group which, amongst other things, identifies the potential risks which face the Department in completing the decentralisation programme.

My Department has extensive experience in decentralisation having already established decentralised offices in Letterkenny, Sligo, Longford, Waterford and Dundalk. These moves were completed with minimum disruption to the service of the Department and the experience gained will assist us in the current programme.

The implementation process provides the basis for ensuring as smooth and efficient a transition as possible to the new locations. I am satisfied that appropriate arrangements are being put in place in the decentralisation programme for all sections of my Department, including the one referred to by the Deputy.