Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the numbers of staff in her Department who have indicated willingness to decentralise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35004/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Since the announcement of the decentralisation programme there has been an increase of some 180 full-time posts in my Department in Portlaoise. My Department's Decentralisation Implementation Plan allows for a phased movement to Portlaoise, i.e. the transfer of functions and posts over a number of years. The 2005 and 2006 phases of Decentralisation are now substantially complete and planning and preparations are ongoing for 2007 and subsequent phases. My Department is currently recruiting applicants from the Central Applications Facility for future moves to Portlaoise.

The process of recruitment for Fermoy has also begun. Initially there were 73 applicants for the 100 posts advertised for Fermoy and 74 for the 100 posts advertised for Macroom.