Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism 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. [20311/06]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism 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. [20325/06]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of persons who have been assigned to each of the decentralised locations; the number of those who are new recruits; and the number moving on promotion. [20361/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 161, 162 and 164 together.

The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, excluding the National Archives, comprising approximately 130 posts, will be transferring to Killarney under the Government's Decentralisation programme. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, my Department was designated by the Decentralisation Implementation Group as one of the "early mover" Departments. It is expected that a planning application will be lodged by the end of this week, and construction of the new building in Killarney is expected to commence in August 2006, with an anticipated completion date in the last quarter of 2007. The number of applications received under the Central Applications Facility (CAF) for relocation to Killarney exceeds the number required for most of the grades. My officials are currently in the process of transferring these persons into the Department. Of the staff serving in my Department 9 members have indicated that they wish to relocate to Killarney and a further 16 staff have now been transferred in from other Departments. This process will proceed on a phased basis in order to facilitate a smooth transition to the new location and appropriate training for staff. No staff have been assigned to date to the decentralised location.

The remaining members of staff currently serving in the Department who do not wish to relocate to Killarney will transfer to other Departments remaining in Dublin or to Departments that are scheduled to decentralise to other locations. To date 13 officers have been reassigned to Dublin based posts in other Departments and a further 6 officers have transferred to decentralising Departments in order to relocate to their preferred location. This process will proceed on a phased basis until all officers not transferring to Killarney are transferred to other organisations. While three of the agencies operating under the aegis of my Department have also been selected to decentralise, viz the Sports Council to Killarney, Fáilte Ireland to Mallow and the Arts Council to Kilkenny, they were not included in the list as early movers.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism 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. [20339/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Of the 130 posts in my Department that are relocating to Killarney, there is only one specialist post, that of an accountant which is currently vacant. A significant proportion of the post holders in the three organisations under the aegis of my Department that have been designated for decentralisation, i.e. the Sports Council (Killarney), the Arts Council (Kilkenny) and Fáilte Ireland (Mallow), could be regarded as having specialist skills. While the detailed arrangements associated with the decentralisation process are matters that fall within the responsibilities of the Agencies themselves, I understand that the number of such officers in these organisations who have applied to relocate is small.