Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 371: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will detail, providing in each case the full postal address, of each section of his Department, each State, semi-State body and agency under the aegis of his Department, which has moved or is due to move from Dublin under the Government's decentralisation programme; the number of staff based there prior to decentralisation; the number of staff that will be based there post decentralisation; and in respect of each building, the intended use it will be put to once decentralisation is complete. [7748/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government's Decentralisation Programme involves the relocation of the Departments HQ to Cavan involving 378 posts and the Seafood and Coastal Zone elements to Clonakilty involving 91 posts. The programme also includes the decentralisation of Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) with 95 posts to Clonakilty, the Central Fisheries Board (CFB) with 62 Posts to Carrick-on-Shannon and Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) with 47 posts to Dundalk.

The entire Dublin-based Department, which is due for decentralisation, has been based in three locations, Leeson Lane, Dublin 2, 29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2 and Tom Johnson House, Haddington Road, Dublin 4. BIM is based at Crofton Road, Dún Laoghaire Co. Dublin. The CFB at Swords Business Campus, Co. Dublin and SEI in Glasnevin, Dublin 9.

The acquisition of suitable properties to facilitate proposed decentralisation moves is a matter for the Office of Public Works OPW), as is any future use of Dublin buildings post-decentralisation. I can inform the House that to date my Department's interactions with OPW on the acquisition of properties are well progressed. A 10.5-acre site has been acquired in Cavan Town to accommodate the Headquarters functions and my Department is working with OPW towards the lodging of a planning application ahead of the Decentralisation Implementation Group timeframe for relocation of late 2009. In the meantime I opened offices last year for a significant advance party in Cavan Town. There are currently 28 staff working in the Town covering Corporate Services, Domestic Policy Co-ordination, EU Co-ordination, North-South Co-ordination, Freedom Of Information Services as well as several important financial management functions. Plans to increase numbers in Cavan in 2007 are well advanced.

In relation to Clonakilty a 3.5 acre (approx.) site has been acquired to house both the Departments functions and those of BIM. A planning application has been lodged and considered by the Local Authority. I understand from OPW that additional information sought by the Local Authority was submitted last month and that the planning process is continuing.

There are 50 staff delivering a range of Seafood and Coastal Zone services currently operating out of interim accommodation in the town since June 2006. We are committed to having a full complement of DCMNR staff in interim accommodation in the town by June this year. In addition, the establishment of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) in January will result in an increase in staff numbers to be relocated to Clonakilty and plans to house the SFPA in interim accommodation in the town by June 2007 are well advanced. It is anticipated that some 135 posts will be decentralised to Clonakilty by June 2007 rather than the Departmental 91 first mooted. This is in addition to the 95 BIM posts.

As the Deputy will be aware in relation to the CFB, following a major review of the inland fisheries sector, the Government is acting to establish a single National Inland Fisheries Authority (NIFA) from both the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards.

The creation of NIFA is a significant undertaking and efforts have been focussed on the legislative structure to underpin NIFA and consideration of the administrative structure of the new body.

As regards SEI, both my Department and the Agency are liaising closely with OPW in relation to a permanent site within the Energy Zone described in SEI's 2020 policy. So far no SEI, BIM or CFB staff have relocated to Dundalk, Clonakilty or Carrick-on-Shannon, respectively.