Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the decentralisation scheme; if the National Standards Authority of Ireland is included in the scheme; and if he will provide further details on this group. [21996/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is an agency under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I will answer on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Under the Government's Decentralisation Programme, the NSAI, with a total 132 staff, is to be relocated to Arklow. The total number of first preference priority applications made via the Central Applications Facility from staff within the agency is 11. When those from across the civil service and the rest of the public service are added the total is 130. The NSAI are working closely with the OPW to identify and secure suitable office accommodation in the Arklow area. The NSAI anticipates that its decentralisation plan will be complete by April 2009.