Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Defence the position with regard to decentralisation as it impacts on his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32270/06]

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's Dublin based civil service staff to Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The number of staff to be relocated to Newbridge is 200. A total of 338 personnel, of which 60 are from within the Department, have opted to move to Newbridge. An additional 29 staff from outside my Department have been assigned to this Department from the Central Applications Facility for the purpose of relocating to Newbridge. Twenty-two 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. Of the remaining personnel in my Department who have opted to remain in Dublin, nineteen have been reassigned.

The Government decision also provides for the transfer of 300 Defence Forces Headquarters staff to the Curragh, Co Kildare.