Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of staff decentralised to the head office in County Kerry; if an office has been retained in Dublin; if so, the number of personnel involved there; if he has satisfied himself that the new system is giving the best possible service on a national basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40716/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, excluding the National Archives, i.e. approximately 130 posts, will relocate to Killarney under the Government's Decentralisation programme and, as the Deputy may be aware, was designated by the Decentralisation Implementation Group as one of the "early mover" Departments. Construction of the new building in Killarney is expected to commence before the end of the year and the anticipated completion date is early 2008.

In the meantime, an advance group of 44 staff relocated to temporary accommodation at Fossa, Killarney in September last. The temporary premises is capable of accommodating up to 70 staff and following a "bedding down" period, consideration will be given to transferring further units of my Department on a phased basis, ultimately leading to the relocation of all 130 staff to the new permanent building in Killarney in early 2008.

Careful consideration was given to the units that made up the advance group and I am satisfied that my Department is operating effectively in both locations. I am also satisfied that, with the help of the best modern technology, officials in my Department's Dublin and Killarney offices communicate effectively with each other and with my Department's customers.