John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding decentralisation of the Higher Education and Training Awards Council; the plans in place regarding decentralisation of this council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13168/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Higher Education & Training Awards Council (HETAC) is to decentralise to Edenderry. The overall number of posts involved is in the region of 32. HETAC has produced an implementation report for the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG) and recruitment takes place on the basis that the body will decentralise.

I understand that OPW has acquired a site for the proposed decentralisation to Edenderry which includes HETAC.

HETAC is a public service body rather than a civil body service body. Most of the staff employed in such bodies are not civil servants. In their most recent report to the Minister for Finance the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG) outline the issues facing bodies in making arrangements for the deployment in Dublin for those members of staff who do not wish to decentralise. The DIG states in its report that it is of the view that resolution of this issue "is central to the overall implementation process in the State Agencies". The DIG also states in the report that it has requested the Department of Finance to pursue directly with ICTU proposals for getting central discussions underway on the full range of industrial relations issues relating to the decentralisation of State agencies.