John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of staff of Development Co-operation Ireland volunteering for decentralisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39201/05]

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the timescale for the decentralisation of DCI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39200/05]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of principal and senior development specialists within Development Co-operation Ireland volunteering for decentralisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39202/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 93 and 128 together.

Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Co-operation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, currently based in Dublin, is scheduled to decentralise to Limerick. The transfer of the directorate to Limerick is due to take place in the first quarter of 2007. My Department has recently notified the Office of Public Works of our agreement to accept an office accommodation proposal recommended by it. Subject to final completion of the premises within this period, I expect the above timetable to be met.

A total of 123 posts are attached to the directorate at headquarters. Already, 28 of the posts, including that of director general, are filled by officers who have applied to decentralise to Limerick. These 28 posts are made up as follows: 13 officers were already serving within the directorate and three were serving elsewhere in the Department; eight officers have been recruited from other Departments via the central applications facility, CAF, and four have been assigned from inter-departmental promotion panels. In addition, there are a further 18 officers serving elsewhere in the Department, including eight serving in aid missions abroad, who have expressed interest in decentralising to Limerick.

Twenty-four of the posts attached to the directorate are specialist posts, with three of these being designated as principal development specialists. No applications through the CAF have, so far, been received for these three posts. On the other hand, a combined total of eight senior development specialists and development specialists, currently serving in the directorate, have applied through the CAF for the 21 posts at these levels being decentralised to Limerick. In addition, four development specialists have been recruited since the announcement of the decentralisation programme.

In summary, arrangements are at present in place to fill some 12 of the 24 specialist posts. It would be my hope that a greater number of the specialists will volunteer to decentralise to Limerick as the date for the decentralisation of the directorate draws nearer.