Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received notification regarding the sourcing of a premises to accommodate the decentralisation of Irish Aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19583/06]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of staff, working with Irish Aid, volunteering to decentralise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19577/06]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the timescale for the decentralisation of divisions within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19573/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 149 and 167 together.

Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, currently based in Dublin, will decentralise to Limerick. This is scheduled to take place during the first half of 2007 and will involve the relocation to Limerick of 124 posts. The Office of Public Works has identified a suitable location on Henry Street in Limerick city centre and has advised my Department that lease terms have been agreed with the developer. The building is scheduled to be ready for occupation by June 2007.

Already, a total of 35 posts in the Directorate, including that of Director General, are filled by officers who have signalled their intention to decentralise to Limerick. Sixteen officers serving elsewhere in the Department, mostly abroad, have also expressed an interest in doing so. This total of 51 represents some 41% of the posts being transferred to Limerick. The aim is that, by the second half of 2006, most posts in the Directorate will be filled by staff who will decentralise to Limerick.