Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Finance if properties have been recently leased, rented or purchased by the Office of Public Works in Mullingar or Athlone or in neighbouring towns to facilitate the transfer of staff from the Department of Education and Science to the area as per the Government's policy of decentralisation; the terms of such transactions and future plans in this regard. [33351/06]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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Planning permission has been received by the Office of Public Works for a building on one of its own sites in Athlone for Department of Education and Science staff. The indicative date for building completion, as per the latest report of the Decentralisation Implementation Group, is mid 2008.

In the case of Mullingar, the Office of Public Works is currently negotiating on a potential site. Subject to satisfactory terms being agreed, the indicative date for the completion of this development, as mentioned in the Decentralisation Implementation Group's latest report, is early 2009.

There are no plans at present to lease or rent properties in either Mullingar, Athlone or in neighbouring towns for Department of Education and Science staff.