Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 193: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will clarify the situation in relation to the decentralisation of his Department; if there has been a change in the targeted number of staff due to move to Navan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24947/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I can confirm that my Department's decentralisation programme is firmly on target.

The Private Security Authority and the Garda Central Vetting Unit are operational in Tipperary town and Thurles respectively. Further advance moves from Garda HQ are planned for Thurles for the first half of 2007. The Land Registry has recently opened an office in Roscommon town and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner will relocate to Portarlington in December. The new headquarters building for the Irish Prison Service is scheduled to be completed and ready for occupation in the first half of 2007. Under this phase of the programme, therefore, the total number of Justice sector posts moving out of Dublin will amount to two hundred and eighty-five.

As regards Navan, the targeted number of posts remains at 103. This will be made up of posts from the Probation Service, the National Property Services Regulatory Authority, the Garda Civilian HR Unit and the Coroners Agency.

I understand that the Office of Public Works is currently looking at property solutions for all these agencies and it is anticipated that the first moves to Navan will begin before the end of the year.