Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of jobs from his Department to be decentralised to County Donegal; the locations in Donegal to where the jobs are to be transferred; the preparations carried out to date in 2006; when he expects that the process of decentralisation to the county will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11927/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Government's programme of decentralisation, 230 posts in the Department are to relocate to Donegal town and 120 posts to Buncrana. The decentralisation implementation group, DIG, recommended to the Minister for Finance the locations and organisations to be included in the first phase of the programme and those to be regarded as potential early movers. The locations designated to be included in the first phase for the Department were Sligo and Drogheda while Carrick-on-Shannon was identified as a potential early mover.

According to the DIG progress report to the Minister for Finance on 30 June 2005, the indicative construction start date for accommodation in Donegal town is the end of 2007 and the construction completion date is indicated as mid-2009. In the case of Buncrana, the indicative construction start date is the end of 2007 while the completion date is indicated as early 2009.

The Office of Public Works has been charged with securing accommodation in the various locations identified for decentralisation. The OPW has advised the Department that a suitable site has been identified in Donegal town and a site has been purchased in Buncrana.