Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 405: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [7752/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Government's Decentralisation Programme, my Department is required to move 250 posts to Carlow. An advance move of approximately 80 staff is due to take place in the second Quarter of 2007.

The following is a breakdown of the business units that have been earmarked for my Department's full decentralisation programme and the number of staff based in each unit prior to decentralisation:

The number of staff in the aforementioned sections based in Dublin post-decentralisation will be:

The postal address for Companies Registration Office/Registrar of Friendly Societies is:

Parnell House, 14 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

The postal address for the remaining business units i.e. Work Permits, NERA, Redundancy and Insolvency payments is:

Davitt House, Adelaide Road, Dublin 2

It is expected that the above business units decentralising to Carlow will vacate their existing premises by the end of 2009.

The issue of consolidating accommodation for remaining business units is under consideration by the Department. The Department does not own any of the buildings occupied by it and it will be a matter for the Office of Public Works to deal with any leasing/rent issues arising from the decentralisation to Carlow.

The National Consumer Agency, which will incorporate the existing Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs, is due to relocate to Cork. The arrangements for the move and associated staffing details have yet to be finalised, so I am not in a position, at this time, to provide the information requested.

Four of the Agencies under the aegis of my Department are due to decentralise as follows:

FÁS is to move 383 posts to Birr, Co. Offaly;

Enterprise Ireland is to move 292 posts to Shannon;

The Health and Safety Authority is to move 110 posts to Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, and

The National Standards Authority of Ireland is to move 132 posts to Arklow, Co. Wicklow.

383 FÁS Head Office staff are decentralising to Birr under the Government's decentralisation programme. These staff are based in 13 locations throughout the country. The majority are based in the following locations:

256: 27-33 Upper Baggot Street, Dublin 4.

46: Canal House, 563 South Circular Road, Dublin 8

18: Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

5: Adelaide Chambers, Peter Street, Dublin 8.

21: National Contact Centre, Edenderry, Co. Offaly.

Once staff in the above buildings have decentralised there will be no staff based in these offices and the lease on these buildings will be returned to their owners.

There are also 37 Head Office staff in 9 FÁS centres throughout the country. The decentralisation of these staff to Birr will not have any effect on the status of these buildings.

The number of Enterprise Ireland staff based in Dublin prior to decentralisation is approximately 600 and the number of staff based in Dublin post decentralisation will be approximately 300.

Enterprise Ireland is moving out of four separate Dublin sites, including their HQ at Glasnevin, into one site at East Point early in 2008.

Enterprise Ireland will vacate the Glasnevin site early in 2008. The future of the site will be determined in consultation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

When Enterprise Ireland vacates its three leased offices in Dublin, new occupancy will be a matter for the owners/principal leaseholders of these buildings.

The current postal address for E.I. H.Q. is:

Enterprise Ireland, Head Office, Glasnevin, Dublin 9

The Health and Safety Authority's Dublin office and Headquarters is located at the Metropolitan Building, James Joyce Street, Dublin 1, where 121 staff are currently located. The Authority is to move 110 posts to Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny as part of the decentralisation programme.

In advance of decentralising to Thomastown, in August 2006 the Authority established an interim office in Kilkenny city to facilitate the transfer of existing staff and the recruitment of new staff to the decentralisation area, including staff recruited for the REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) strategy. The number serving in the interim office has increased steadily since then and full occupancy (25/30 staff) is expected later this year.

The Authority is in close contact with the Office of Public Works regarding the property management (site acquisition) and project management (design and build) aspects of the Thomastown location. Precise timelines have yet to be finalised.

I am informed that the Health and Safety Authority's Dublin Office is held on a limited lease. The lease provides for the sub-letting of space and, as it is proposed that the Authority will retain a regional presence in Dublin post decentralisation, some of the existing space will be retained for that purpose. Once the situation regarding timelines etc. for decentralisation become clearer the Authority will review the options available to it as regards space and numbers at that point.

The National Standards Authority of Ireland is to move 132 posts to Arklow, Co. Wicklow. The postal address for the National Standards Authority of Ireland is:

Ballymun Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.

The number of staff based there prior to decentralisation is 132 and the number of staff that will be based there post-decentralisation is nil. The subsequent utilization or disposal of facilities currently occupied by the Authority will be a matter for the OPW.