Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 484: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of staff in his Department who have indicated willingness to decentralise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38593/06]

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 and 10 posts to the Department's offices in Na Forbacha.

The decentralisation process is now well advanced — 68 posts have already been assigned to temporary offices in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo, which opened in July of this year. OPW have indicated that a new headquarters building will be in place at Knock Airport by mid 2008 and those posts will then be relocated to the new building.

Of the 10 posts to go to Na Forbacha, 8 posts have been relocated there and I expect the balance to be in place in 2007.

The number of original staff of the Department who agreed to relocate to Knock Airport or Na Forbacha was 18. However, we were very well subscribed at most grades, through the CAF system, by staff of the wider Civil Service who wished to relocate with the Department.

With the progress achieved to date, and in view of the fact that there is still a large number of other staff available to transfer in to the Department under the CAF arrangements, I am satisfied that we will be able to meet all of our staffing requirements in both locations in the required timeframe.