Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress made to date with regard to the planned decentralisation of the Defence Forces headquarters to the Curragh, and his Department to Newbridge, County Kildare; the number of personnel who have relocated to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21999/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government decided in December 2003 that my Department's Dublin-based staff are to be decentralised to Newbridge, Co. Kildare with Defence Forces Headquarters decentralising to the Curragh.

The Office of Public Works published the planning notification for the new Defence Forces' Headquarters in the national press on 13 July 2007. No observations were received in relation to this building project. Tender documents are currently being prepared by OPW in consultation with the Defence Forces. When completed, this building will accommodate 355 members of the Defence Forces.

The number of Departmental staff to be relocated to Newbridge is just over 200. There are currently 128 Newbridge-bound staff serving in the Department, which amounts to 70% of the total administrative and clerical staff requirement. In addition to the civil servants, 43 military personnel will be located in Newbridge also. Kildare County Council has approved the sale of a site at Station Road in Newbridge to the Office of Public Works for the construction of the Department's new headquarters. A preferred tenderer for the design and construction of the building has been chosen and the planning process is under way with a decision by OPW expected shortly. Depending on planning and the commencement of building work, OPW has indicated that construction and fit-out will take 18 months to complete. No staff have relocated to either location to date.