Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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Question 397: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made regarding the position of the decentralised Government office for Carlow. [4955/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has been making good progress in implementing its decentralisation programme. In relation to the site, the current position is that the Office of Public Works has completed the purchase of a site in Carlow town centre. Next steps in the process will include the OPW issuing a call for expressions of interest for the design, build, finance and maintain procurement option selected for this project by the decentralisation implementation group, and approved by the Government.

OPW has indicated that it will be seeking expressions of interest for the project in March of this year, with a view to awarding a tender subject to planning permission, following this pre-selection phase, during the autumn of 2006. The OPW expects construction to begin early in 2007. In the meantime, staff opting for decentralisation continue to be assigned to decentralising areas of my Department. I have not ruled out the option of moving some of my Department's functions to Carlow within a shorter timeframe than that foreseen for the completion of the new building. This option will be explored by my officials in consultation with staff and decentralising business units and provided that suitable high-standard accommodation can be found in Carlow.