Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 449: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the decentralisation of staff from the Arts Council to Kilkenny City will take effect in view of a commitment to do so in December 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35608/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy has indicated, the Arts Council, one of the State bodies under the aegis of my Department, has been selected under the Government's Decentralisation Programme to relocate to Kilkenny. However, the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG) has not identified it as one of the 'early mover' organisations.

The current position is that the Arts Council has prepared a revised decentralisation implementation plan and the Projects Division of the OPW, having assessed the requirements of the Arts Council, has identified a building in Kilkenny that may be suitable. It is a period building owned by the County Council and is in need of major refurbishment. A conservation report has been completed and the OPW has advised that further investigation is needed in order to ascertain the financial and architectural implications of the possible refurbishment of the building.