Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 434: To ask the Minister for Defence the position on the decentralisation of his Department to Newbridge; the timescale involved; the amount of staff to be transferred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22655/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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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.

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.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 435: To ask the Minister for Defence the position on his plans for the decentralisation of his Department to the Curragh; the timescale involved; the number of staff that will be moving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22656/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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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 335 members of the Defence Forces. It is expected that the building will be ready at the end of 2009. In addition, 78 support staff will be located in a separate building in the Curragh.This represents an increase in the numbers decentralising to the Curragh, and was approved by Government last month.