Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of the proposed decentralisation moves announced in December 2003, in respect of which no property solutions have yet been identified. [4175/07]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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The Decentralisation Programme envisages the relocation of some 10,600 civil and public servants to more than 50 locations outside of Dublin.

The Office of Public Works has direct responsibility for the property aspects relating to most of these locations. In the case of a small number of locations e.g. Birr (FAS), Mitchelstown (Bus Eireann), Shannon (Enterprise Ireland) and Wexford (NBA), the responsibility for the acquisition of property solutions rests with the relevant agencies.

Since the announcement of the Programme, the Office of Public Works has been engaged in an extensive exercise with the aim of sourcing a range of property solutions covering all of its locations. The solutions include development sites, purchase or lease of existing buildings as well as purchase or lease of proposed buildings with planning permission.

To date, property acquisition negotiations have been completed or significantly advanced by the Office of Public Works in 37 locations in respect of permanent accommodation solutions. The solutions to date include a combination of OPW owned sites, local authority owned sites and privately owned sites. In a number of cases, it has been decided to lease or purchase buildings.

In the case of 5 locations, Athlone, the Curragh, Navan, Furbo and Sligo, OPW owned sites have been identified and will be used to accommodate decentralised offices.

In the case of another 6 locations, Carlow, Longford, Newcastle West, Killarney, Trim and Thurles, sites have been acquired from the relevant Local Authorities. Privately owned sites have been purchased in Buncrana, Clonakilty, Dungarvan, Knock, Cavan, Claremorris and Tipperary. Buildings have been leased in Loughrea and Carrick on Shannon. In the case of Tullamore, the OPW has completed the purchase of an office block, which was handed over in the first week of July 2006. Contracts have been signed by OPW in respect of 4 locations, Limerick (leased building), Thomastown (site), Edenderry (site) and Roscommon (site).

Contracts have been received in a further 9 locations including Donegal, Portlaoise, Listowel, Carrickmacross, Kilrush, Waterford, Wexford, Enniscorthy and Mullingar.

Terms have been agreed and contracts are awaited in a further 4 locations including Clifden, Youghal, Newbridge and Drogheda.

In parallel with the acquisition of permanent accommodation solutions, the Office of Public Works has been involved in sourcing temporary solutions in 22 locations in order to accommodate advance parties. These temporary solutions will allow the early movement of staff to their desired locations and will also facilitate them regarding their domestic family arrangements.

In a number of locations various proposals are still being evaluated and firm, preferred solutions have yet to be identified. These locations include Dundalk, Fermoy, Kildare, Monaghan, Arklow, Portarlington, Ballinasloe, Mallow, Kanturk, Cork City, Athy, Carrick-on-Shannon and Macroom. The Office of Public Works is actively pursuing the acquisition of suitable solutions in these areas. The expectation is that this exercise will be largely completed before the end of this year.

The progress achieved to date on the property front confirms that the Decentralisation Programme is well advanced and on course to achieve the Government's objective.