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

Question 292: To ask the Minister for Finance the proposals for the Dublin offices that will be vacated in relation to the Governments decentralisation programme; if after they are sold or leased the number of workers in each of the offices will decrease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33891/06]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Government's Decentralisation Programme advances office space will become vacant in Dublin, thereby giving rise to a rationalisation of the Dublin property portfolio. Any decisions on the future use of buildings in Dublin will, however, depend on a range of factors, including: the particular requirements of Departments remaining in Dublin, including accommodation for non decentralising staff; the timing of the relocation of staff to decentralised offices; the specific circumstances associated with each building including location, size, and whether it is leased or owned; the prevailing market conditions.

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

Question 293: To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of moving the existing information technology centres out of Dublin under the decentralisation programme; the expected cost of recruiting new IT specialists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33892/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The ICT functions of three large Departments, together with the Centre for Management Organisation & Development of the Department of Finance (CMOD) are due to relocate under the Decentralisation Programme as follows: Revenue Commissioners to Kildare; Social & Family Affairs to Drogheda; Agriculture & Food to Portlaoise; CMOD to Kildare. In addition, REACH and the Local Government Computer Services Board are due to move to Drogheda. As all decentralising organisations moving in their entirety will also be relocating an ICT capacity, ICT is addressed in their implementation plans to a varying degree.

The Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG) has received a comprehensive update from CMOD in relation to progress on ICT moves in the four main organisations. Following from this, the Group proposes to discuss immediately with the Secretaries General of the organisations concerned the progress made and issues arising in each case in more detail. The Group will then revert to my Department with options for a feasible way forward.

The issue of managed data centre services was also addressed by the DIG. The OPW is being asked to convene a working group to determine (i) the feasibility of procuring private sector versus State owned accommodation for data centres, including a cost benefit analysis of the options, and (ii) the logistics, costs, financing and staffing implications of State managed/operated data centres. It is expected that this work will be completed by Spring of 2007.

A protocol has been prepared by my Department to address the filling of ICT posts and a sub-group of General Council has been established to move the process forward. The Centre for Management and Organisational Development (CMOD) has already concluded a pilot programme of ICT certified training and is currently developing tender proposals to source trainers to provide such certified training for new entrants to the ICT area. These initiatives will assist in ensuring a pipeline of skilled ICT staff in the Civil Service. Pending the outcome of the work detailed above, it is not possible to estimate the costs associated with the ICT relocation.