Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 612: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in relation to decentralisation proposals that are relevant to his Department he is satisfied that sufficient numbers of staff at Secretary and assistant secretary level are currently willing to decentralise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5036/06]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 613: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the Secretary General of his Department has consulted 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. [5051/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 612 and 613 together.

Consultations as referred to in Question No. 613 have taken place and the outcome has been reported to the Department of Finance. I do not consider it appropriate to indicate the individual preferences of officers concerned in my Department.

However, my Department's decentralisation implementation plans, which are available at www.environ.ie, already publicly pledge the support of my Department's senior management team in relation to the decentralisation programme. The plans state that my Department's Secretary General and assistant secretaries are committed to providing the necessary leadership to ensure a successful outcome, including the continuity of senior management experience through the transition to the decentralised locations and beyond. Senior management are also directly involved in overseeing the preparations for the transfer of the Department's operations to its new locations in line with required timescales.