Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the decentralisation of his Department to County Mayo and County Sligo; when he expects the process to be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31285/06]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding his Departments relocation process. [31225/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 45 together.

My Department is committed to relocating 140 posts to new headquarters at Knock Airport. OPW have indicated that the headquarters building will be in place there by mid 2008. To further the decentralisation process, 68 posts have been assigned to temporary offices in Tubbercurry, Co Sligo which opened in July of this year. The intention is that these posts will be relocated to Knock Airport when the new building is ready. The Department's programme for decentralisation to Na Forbacha, Galway involves relocating 10 posts. 8 posts have already relocated there and it is expected that the balance will be in place next year.

Pobal is relocating 40 posts to Clifden, 21 of which are now in place in temporary offices there. A selection process to fill a further 3 posts is ongoing and there is scope to increase those numbers to 29 if required. The full complement of staff will be relocated when Pobal's permanent offices are complete, which is expected early in 2008. In relation to the proposed relocation of Foras na Gaeilge posts to Gaoth Dobhair, please see my reply to other questions being answered today.