Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress in respect of the decentralisation programme of Enterprise Ireland in Shannon, County Clare; the number transferred to date; the make-up of the people who have taken up posts; the persons who have transferred from Dublin; the persons who are transferring upon promotion; the persons who are new recruits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35633/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Following the transfer of responsibility for indigenous industry development in the Mid-West Region from Shannon Development to Enterprise Ireland (EI) from 1 January 2007, Enterprise Ireland established its new National Regional Development Headquarters, which incorporates the County Enterprise Coordination Unit, in Shannon. This has given Enterprise Ireland a major presence in Shannon. Currently 40 staff, including a number of staff transferred from Shannon Development and over 20 local recruits, are based at recently leased offices in Westpark, Shannon. It is expected that this number will increase to about 65 over the coming months. A senior manager has been appointed as Head of Regions and Entrepreneurship to oversee the establishment of the EI presence in the Mid-West Region. EI managers with responsibility for the County Enterprise Coordination Unit and EI Regional Development strategy as well as the Regional Director with responsibility for the Mid-West Region are now in place in the Shannon office. As part of EI's regional strategy, these posts were assigned to the new office in Shannon from Dublin.

The Government decentralisation programme provides for the transfer of the Enterprise Ireland Headquarters, with 300 posts, to Shannon. Further progress in effecting this move is contingent on a number of factors, including the level of interest in the Shannon location expressed through the Central Applications Facility and the resolution of certain key issues for agency decentralisation in discussions at central level. I understand that there have been 25 applications through the Central Applications Facility from civil and public servants for transfer to Shannon. Enterprise Ireland, working closely with the Office of Public Works, has identified, but not yet acquired, a preferred site for the construction of a new HQ building in Shannon.