Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of staff working at her Department headquarters at Kildare Street; the number of these staff who have expressed an interest in relocation under the planned decentralisation programme to Portlaoise; the timeframe for this move; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23232/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently 667 Department staff in Kildare Street. However not all of these staff are due to move to Portlaoise, e.g. the Animal Health and Welfare Division, and other posts, are due to move to the Department's new offices in Backweston. In total some 600 posts are due to move to Portlaoise. My Department's decentralisation programme has been underway since 2004 so most of those who initially expressed interest have since transferred. The Department's Decentralisation Implementation Plan allowed for a phased movement to Portlaoise, i.e. the transfer of functions and posts over a number of years, as outlined below.

In addition, to facilitate the decision to decentralise to Portlaoise, all new activity within the Department, particularly work relating to the Single Payment Scheme, is being focused in Portlaoise. There has also been a significant increase in the number of posts there. In total there has been an increase of some 200 full-time posts in Portlaoise to over 400 since the decentralisation programme began. To cater for the increase in staff numbers, the Department has taken temporary accommodation in Portlaoise.