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

Question 395: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism 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. [7747/07]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The total staff of my Department, which includes the National Archives, is 168. At present 80 staff are located at 23 Kildare Street Dublin 2 (Headquarters, Minister's Office, Press Office, Tourism Marketing and Impact Assessment, Internal Audit Unit and part of Corporate Services, part of Finance Unit, Tourism Development, and Major Sports Projects Unit) and Frederick Buildings, South Frederick Street, Dublin 2 (Culture Ireland and part of Sports Unit, Cultural Institutions and Film Unit.)

Forty-six staff are already based at Fossa, Killarney, Co. Kerry (Minister's Constituency Office, Sports Capital Grants Unit, Swimming Pools and Sports Capital Inspections Unit, and part of Corporate Services, Finance Unit, Art Film and Music Unit, Cultural Institutions Unit and Tourism Development Unit.) On completion of the new permanent accommodation in Killarney in 2008, all sections of my Department, excluding the National Archives, which has a staff of 42, will operate from Killarney.

Under the Government's Decentralisation Programme the Arts Council, Irish Sports Council and Fáilte Ireland are due to decentralise to Kilkenny, Killarney and Mallow respectively. The current addresses for the three agencies are as follows: The Arts Council, 70 Merrion Street, Dublin 2; The Irish Sports Council, Top Floor, Block A Westend Office Park Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; and Fáilte Ireland, Baggot Street Bridge, Dublin 2, and Amiens Street Dublin 1. The number of staff employed in each of the three agencies is: Arts Council, 45; Sports Council, 25; and Fáilte Ireland 223.

Following the implementation of the decentralisation programmes in respect of the three agencies, it is intended that all staff will operate from the decentralised locations. However, as they have not been given early mover status, the Decentralisation Implementation Group has given no timeframe for their relocation. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is currently assessing a number of options regarding suitable locations and properties in the three locations. The intended use of the vacated buildings in Dublin post decentralisation is a matter for the Office of Public Works.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 396: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he expects Civil Servants to be decentralised to Carlow; and the numbers involved. [7107/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department has been making good progress in the relocation of the required 250 posts to Carlow under the Government's Decentralisation Programme. Officials of my Department, in consultation with the Department of Finance and the OPW, as well as decentralising staff and Business Units, are currently progressing an advance move to Carlow. I expect this advance move to allow for the movement of approximately 80 decentralising staff to Carlow during the second quarter of 2007, on a voluntary basis.

With regard to the move to permanent accommodation, this move will take place in late 2009, in line with the current timeline for availability of permanent accommodation, as advised by OPW. As at 20 February 2007, the total number of posts in Business Units selected for relocation to Carlow is 281.