Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps that she will take to reform the planning and building unit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24885/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department's Developing Areas Unit has been established. To date, 11 members of staff have been redeployed to the unit, comprised of:

1 Principal Officer

1 Assistant Principal Officer

1 Senior Architect

1 Architectural Assistant

3 Higher Executive Officers and

4 Executive Officers

Some of these staff would have been looking after developing areas anyway, and so the consolidation of effort in the new unit will ensure that they are more effectively deployed. The process of filling some of the vacancies arising from the redeployment of staff to the new unit from other areas, is in train. A further 5 additional (ie non-redeployed) posts — including a professional planner — have been approved for the unit. The necessary recruitment arrangements are now being put in place. The staffing of the unit will be kept under review in light of the evolution of its work programme.