Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of civil servants based in Dublin who have applied for decentralisation, who have been transferred to their decentralising post and are actually in position in the decentralised location outside of Dublin; and the locations and the number of civil servants transferred from a Dublin post who are at such locations. [24428/07]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of civil servants and other public servants who have relocated to locations outside of Dublin under the Government's decentralisation programme; the estimated number of each category who will have relocated by the end of 2007; if he will break each set of figures down in terms of those who are relocating from Dublin and relocating from elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24442/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 385 together.

To date, 73 officers from my Department have transferred to an interim location in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo. Of those, 42 officers transferred from posts in Dublin. It is planned to fill a further 30 posts in Tubbercurry early in 2008 and it is envisaged that the majority of those officers will be transferring from posts outside Dublin. 10 officers are in place in Na Forbacha, Galway, 5 of which transferred from Dublin posts. It is planned that 2 more decentralised posts will be filled in Na Forbacha by end 2007 fulfilling the Department's commitment in that location. At this stage, it is not possible to indicate whether the officers filling those posts will be Dublin or provincial based.

Pobal have filled 22 posts in Clifden, Co. Galway. The posts concerned were in respect of new business and all posts, except 1, were filled by way of local recruitment. Pobal plans to fill a further 8 posts in Clifden by end 2007 by means of local recruitment.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department's Decentralisation Implementation Plan allows for a phased movement to Portlaoise, i.e. the transfer of functions and posts over a number of years. Involving over 150 posts, the 2005 & 2006 phases of decentralisation to Portlaoise are now complete and the 2007 phase is in progress. Planning and preparations are ongoing for 2008 and subsequent phases. To facilitate the Government decision on decentralisation all new activities within the Department, particularly work relating to the Single Payment Scheme, are being focused in Portlaoise. In total there has been an increase of over 200 full-time posts in Portlaoise since the programme was announced, bringing the current complement to over 400 staff.

To cater for the increase the Department has taken temporary accommodation in Portlaoise. The OPW currently estimate that construction of the new permanent headquarters will be completed by the end of 2009.