Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Defence the position with regard to the decentralisation programme as it impacts on his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23785/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government decision on decentralisation, announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget statement on 3 December 2003, provides for the transfer of all of my Department'sDublin based civil service staff to Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The number of staff to be relocated to Newbridge is 200. A total of 385 personnel, of which 60 are from within the Department, have opted to move to Newbridge. An additional seventeen staff from outside my Department have been assigned to this Department for the purpose of relocating to Newbridge.

Twenty four members of staff who opted not to move to Newbridge have volunteered to transfer to other Government Departments that have units that are proposed for decentralisation, and some have already moved to their new Departments. One hundred and fifty personnel have opted to remain in Dublin, and to date, ten of these have been reassigned, with a further number to be assigned over the coming months. The Government decision also provides for the transfer of 300 Defence Forces Headquarters staff to the Curragh, Co. Kildare.