Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will provide a report on the various decentralisation projects relating to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10805/06]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the staff within his Department who do not wish to decentralise; if they will move to other Departments or continue to be employed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10769/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 121 together.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department's Dublin based operations are decentralising in full. The headquarters will relocate to Knock Airport while some 13 posts will transfer to Na Forbacha in Galway. The move to Knock Airport is scheduled for completion by the end of 2007. It is, however, planned to relocate up to 70 posts in advance of the main move to temporary accommodation in the general Knock area. This advance move is planned to take place from mid-2006. A further small number of posts may be relocated there in early 2007. Of the 13 Na Forbacha posts mentioned, seven have now transferred to our offices there and it is expected that the remainder will be in place by the end of this year.

As my Department will be decentralising in full, staff who are not relocating with it will move to other Departments, either by way of bilateral transfers with officers transferring into this Department or under the arrangements agreed centrally for redeployment of staff remaining in Dublin.

At a meeting with my counterpart, Mr. David Hanson MP, Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, in Belfast on 6 March 2006, we agreed in principle, subject to completion of the formal North-South Ministerial Council approval process, that 30 Foras na Gaeilge staff posts should be located in Gaoth Dobhair. The formal approval process is being taken forward at official level. The board of foras will be asked to bring forward firm proposals on the phases of locating this staff complement to Gaoth Dobhair and a decision on the precise sections and functions to be located there.

Pobal, formerly ADM, will transfer some 40 posts to Clifden, County Galway. The first phase of this programme, the transfer of the management of the rural social scheme, RSS, involving ten posts, has been completed, while a second phase involving a similar number of staff will be completed in May-June of this year. Temporary accommodation has been acquired in Clifden for these staff. The OPW has identified a local authority site for Pobal's permanent Clifden office. Negotiations are at an advanced stage and it is anticipated that contractual procedures for the acquisition of the site should be finalised shortly. Indications from the OPW are that if everything proceeds according to plan, the offices would be available for occupation in late 2007 or early 2008.