Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 503: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in respect of decentralisation proposals that are relevant to his Department, he is satisfied that sufficient numbers of staff at Secretary General and assistant secretary general level are currently willing to decentralise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5033/06]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 504: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Secretary General of his Department has consulted with officers at assistant secretary level regarding decentralisation; the number who have expressed an interest in decentralising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5048/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 and 504 together.

Under the Government's decentralisation programme, there are no general service posts at Secretary General level or assistant secretary level within my Department, which are due to decentralise. There are, however, four posts at assistant secretary level or higher within the justice and equality sector which, along with the four offices in question, are scheduled for decentralisation. All four post-holders will decentralise with their offices. All recent appointments to assistant secretary level posts in my Department are on the basis that the person appointed must be prepared to serve in any of the Department's decentralised locations as appropriate.