Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 613: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding his Department's commitment to decentralise to Cavan town; the number of staff already there; the number he expects will be there in total; when the full implementation will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23988/07]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 614: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [24427/07]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 615: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [24441/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 613 to 615, inclusive, together.

The Government's decentralisation programme provides for the relocation of 91 posts to Clonakilty in 2007 and 378 posts to Cavan by 2009. 39 staff from my Department have relocated with an advance party to Cavan and of these 35 were originally based in Dublin. I expect that a further 8 Dublin-based civil servants will transfer before the end of this year bringing the total working in Cavan to 47. There are currently 126 Dublin and 38 Provincial based applicants who have expressed a first preference to decentralise to Cavan registered on the Central Application Facility (CAF). My Department will continue to make offers to these staff on an ongoing basis.

The decentralisation of the Marine functions to Clonakilty is well advanced with 79 staff currently in place. 27 of these staff were Dublin based. I expect that a further 4 civil servants will transfer to Clonakilty before the end of this year bringing the total there to 83. The remaining staff are members of the professional/technical grades and discussions are continuing with the relevant trade union around resolving a number of outstanding issues.

The decentralisation programme also involves the relocation of Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) to Dundalk. This involves the transfer of 42 posts. SEI has worked with the OPW in securing the accommodation for an advance party to be based in Dundalk ahead of the permanent move. Two SEI personnel are currently stationed in Dundalk and the target is to have approximately 12 staff there by the end of this year. Both the Central Fisheries Board and Bord Iascaigh Mhara are also included in the Decentralisation Programme but implementation has been affected by the national industrial relations issues that have arisen in some of the State companies/ agencies.