Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of principal and senior development specialists volunteering for decentralisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18715/07]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of development specialists volunteering for decentralisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18710/07]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 99 together.

Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is Irish Aid's Headquarters, will decentralise to Limerick. This is scheduled to take place in early 2008 on completion of the premises. It will involve the relocation to Limerick of 124 posts. Good progress has been made and personnel have either been assigned to, or identified for, 101 posts or approximately 82% of the 124 posts scheduled to be decentralised. An advance party involving over 50 staff has already decentralised to interim office premises in Limerick.

As regards development specialists, they perform an important role in the business of Irish Aid. The specialists work alongside diplomatic and general service staff, in close contact and co-operation with each business unit within the Division. There are a number of issues to be worked out with regard to the specialist posts which are scheduled to move. Discussions are ongoing at a very senior level with representatives of the specialists, with their union IMPACT and with the Departments of Finance and Foreign Affairs in order to resolve the outstanding issues. Progress has been made and I hope that these discussions can be brought to a successful conclusion at an early date. Until these sensitive discussions are concluded, it would be premature to speculate on the number of specialist posts which might be decentralised to Limerick.

In addition to the development specialist posts at Headquarters, there are 20 development specialists attached to Embassies in our programme countries.

I should point out that almost all of the senior management team for Limerick are in place. In this regard, the Director General of Irish Aid will be decentralising to Limerick. Four Counsellors/ Principal Officers have already decentralised as part of the advance party and a further three Counsellors/Principal Officers in the Directorate will be decentralising. The changeover of the senior management team, just as in other grades, has been implemented in a planned and careful way so as to minimise disruption to the business of the Directorate.

As stated in the Programme for Government, decentralisation is a Government decision and the Government is committed to moving ahead with its implementation.