Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Finance the terms of the agreement which he has negotiated with public service unions on the share of promotion opportunities which will be confined to staff who are decentralising and the share which will remain open; and if similar terms will apply in State agencies. [20246/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Promotion practices in the public service are being managed in a way which facilitates the achievement of the decentralisation programme in an efficient manner. In the Civil Service agreement has been reached with the general service unions that all interdepartmental promotions for general service grades will be made on the basis of the appointee agreeing to move to a post in a decentralising unit or decentralising Department or Office. In addition, any appointments from open competitions are being made on the same basis.

At present 40% of all general service promotion posts are filled through inter-departmental competition. This proportion will rise to 50% on 1 March next. All posts earmarked in the normal promotions sequence to be filled through inter-departmental competition will have a decentralisation clause attached. Where one of those interdepartmental vacancies arises in relation to a Dublin-based post, the post is filled by an officer who wishes to remain in Dublin and the vacancy is transferred to a decentralising department. In addition, where an organisation is moving in full, all internal promotions will include a decentralisation condition in the period of 52 weeks prior to the move. Where an organisation is moving in part, 50% of all internal promotions will include a decentralisation condition in the period of 52 weeks prior to the move taking place. These arrangements allow for a proportion of all promotions arising in civil service general service posts in the normal course to have a decentralisation condition.

A parallel proposal in respect of professional and technical grades in the Civil Service is currently being discussed with the unions representing those grades.

In the State agency sector, there are a range of human resource issues, including promotions, which will need to be resolved through dialogue and negotiations. In the absence of agreement with staff interests, the management and boards of agencies have a responsibility to use all available opportunities to progress the Government policy on decentralisation.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress which has been made on site acquisition or procurement of a building and the latest estimate of the completed acquisition, building and kitting out cost of each of the new locations of units within or agencies reporting to his Department. [20271/06]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Finance the buildings and sites which will be vacated by his Department in Dublin as a result of the decentralisation; and when they will be vacated. [20294/06]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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Any decisions on disposing of Dublin space will depend on a range of factors including the following:

the particular requirements of the Department remaining in Dublin;

the specific circumstances associated with each building including location, quality and design, tenure, office area and whether it is leasehold or freehold;

prevailing market conditions which directly affect the timing of property disposals;

the timing of the relocation of staff to decentralised offices.

Because of the above factors; it is not considered appropriate to identify at this stage exactly which buildings will be vacated in Dublin as a result of decentralisation.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons who have opted to remain in Dublin who have been reassigned from decentralising offices; and the numbers who remain to be assigned. [20308/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Central Applications Facility provided for 131 posts to decentralise to Tullamore and 33 posts to decentralise to Kildare. In the case of 77 posts, staff have either been reassigned within the Department of Finance, have left the Department to decentralise with other Departments, have resigned, retired or have been promoted and transferred to other posts. In the case of a further 37 posts, the post holder has chosen to decentralise with the Department of Finance or the post was vacant at the time of the announcement of decentralisation. A total of 34 now remain to be reassigned from posts decentralising to Tullamore and 16 from posts decentralising to Kildare.

As 91 staff of the Department have applied to decentralise with other organisations it is expected that these transfers in the coming weeks and months will facilitate the reassignment of the remaining 50 staff.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Finance the date on which it is expected that each of the decentralisation moves within his Department or of agencies under his Department will be completed. [20322/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I would refer the Deputy to the Decentralisation Implementation Group's July, 2005 report which identified progress in relation to property, implementation planning, numbers of applicants and human resources and industrial relations issues.

In line with the Group's approach to phasing, the report provided indicative construction start and completion dates for the procurement of office accommodation in the new locations. The full contents of this report can be accessed at www.decentralisation.gov.ie. The final construction dates can only be confirmed when the tender process has been completed in respect of each location and are contingent on the level and quality of market interest in respect of sites, successful negotiation of contracts, receipt of acceptable planning permissions, timely completion of briefs and successful acquisition of suitable sites. This whole issue is kept under constant review by the Office of Public Works and I understand that they are currently reviewing the position on the property aspects of the Programme in light of experience to date.

The agencies under the aegis of my Department are working towards the indicative dates given in the Decentralisation Implementation Report. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my own Department is on course to decentralise to Tullamore in July of this year.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Finance the posts of specialist skill which are planned for removal under the decentralisation move; and the number of those who have indicated a willingness to move their posts within units of and agencies under his Department. [20336/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The following tables give a breakdown of the number of posts of specialist skills which are planned to decentralise and the number of people who have indicated a willingness to move with their post, for my Department and agencies under the aegis of my Department.

However, the figures following do not include specialised staff who have accepted decentralising posts in the period since the initial announcement.