Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of the 450 decentralised jobs promised to County Clare in Budget 2003 which have been delivered; if they have not yet been delivered the precise timeframe for delivery of these decentralised jobs to Kilrush and Shannon; the number of people who have opted for decentralisation to each location; and the number of those who have indicated their willingness to move who are currently working in Dublin. [24206/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has decided that the Headquarters of Enterprise Ireland, including 300 posts, will relocate to Shannon as part of the Decentralisation programme. The timing of the major move of Enterprise Ireland staff to Shannon Town is dependent on the assembly of sufficient suitably qualified and experienced people volunteering to transfer to Shannon, within the terms of the Government decision, to undertake the work of the areas scheduled for location in Shannon. This, in turn, is dependent, inter alia, on the outcome at national level of negotiations between the Department of Finance and the unions representing public sector staff in relation to the key issues of concern to the staff in the Agencies scheduled to transfer to regional locations.

The most immediate implementation step for Enterprise Ireland is to provide for a new HQ building, designed to meet the business needs of the organisation. Enterprise Ireland, working closely with the Office of Public Works (OPW), has identified but not yet acquired a preferred site from the submissions received by the OPW in relation to the Shannon location. The preferred site is a 13-acre site owned by Shannon Development. In addition, and in co-operation with Shannon Development and OPW, the site was valued and a feasibility study carried out. The site occupies a prime position near the centre of Shannon and is considered suitable for a major landmark building or civic structure related to the town centre.

The most recent information from the CAF indicated that 19 Enterprise Ireland staff have applied for decentralisation to Enterprise Ireland in Shannon. Of these, 15 are Dublin based and 4 are based outside Dublin.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of the 380 decentralised jobs promised to County Donegal in Budget 2003 which have been delivered; if they have not yet been delivered the precise timeframe for delivery of these decentralised jobs to Buncrana, Donegal Town and Gweedore; the number of people who have opted for decentralisation to each location; and the number of those who have indicated their willingness to move who are currently working in Dublin. [23755/06]

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 298: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of the 265 decentralised jobs promised to County Leitrim in Budget 2003 which have been delivered; if they have not yet been delivered the precise timeframe for delivery of these decentralised jobs; the number of people who have opted for decentralisation to each location; and the number of those who have indicated their willingness to move who are currently working in Dublin. [23758/06]

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 299: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of the 110 decentralised jobs promised to County Monaghan in Budget 2003 which have been delivered; if they have not yet been delivered the precise timeframe for delivery of these decentralised jobs to Carrickmacross and Monaghan; the number of people who have opted for decentralisation to each location; and the number of those who have indicated their willingness to move who are currently working in Dublin. [23760/06]

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of the 100 decentralised jobs promised to Sligo Town in Budget 2003 which have been delivered; if they have not yet been delivered the precise timeframe for delivery of these decentralised jobs; the number of people who have opted for decentralisation to each location; and the number of those who have indicated their willingness to move who are currently working in Dublin. [23762/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 to 300, inclusive, together.

Under the Government decentralisation programme announced in Budget 2004, this Department is due to decentralise all of its Dublin based headquarters sections, involving some 1,210 staff, to six locations throughout the country. In addition, the Combat Poverty Agency and Comhairle, agencies under the aegis of the Department, will be relocated to Monaghan and Drogheda, respectively. According to the Progress Report to the Minister for Finance on 30 June 2005, the following are the indicative construction start and finish dates for each of the locations.

This Department is due to relocate 220 posts to Carrick-on-Shannon — the remaining posts will be relocated from the Central Fisheries Board. The move to Carrick-on-Shannon will be completed in a two phases — phase one will involve some 130 posts and a building is scheduled to be ready for occupation in early 2007. There is no agreed timeframe for the second phase.

To date, 20 staff have been relocated to Sligo under the decentralisation programme. All of the posts were filled by applicants on the Central Application Facility (CAF). The remainder of the posts will move to Sligo early in 2007. According to figures received from the Central Applications Facility (CAF), the number of applications for each location and those based in Dublin are as follows.

These figures, with the exception of Sligo, represent applications made through the CAF before the priority application date of 7 September 2004. In the case of Sligo, new applications made or applicants who amended their application to indicate Sligo as their first preference are included in the total. The CAF will remain open for new applications until the full decentralisation programme is complete.