Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the decentralisation of his Department to Knock Airport; the way he expects the relocation of his Department to contribute to the development of the airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37005/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to relocating 140 posts to new headquarters at Knock Airport. OPW have indicated that the headquarters building will be in place there by mid 2008. To further the decentralisation process, 68 posts have been assigned to temporary offices in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo, which opened in July of this year. The intention is that these posts will be relocated to Knock Airport when the new building is ready.

I believe that the significant inward investment associated with the decentralisation of the Department can help provide an impetus to Knock Airport to become a regional development hub, building on the advantages the airport has in terms of location, accessibility, and the investment and infrastructure already in place there. Once the new Departmental headquarters is built, it will be a very powerful and concrete example of the Government's commitment to the region which will inspire additional private investment.

The socio-economic benefits will also be felt in all of the towns in the airport's hinterland through the provision of services to the airport and to the Department. There will be benefits also for those towns as places where those working in the airport area will be living as active members of their new communities.