Written answers

Wednesday, 30 January 2008

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Decentralisation Programme

8:00 pm

Photo of Kieran O'DonnellKieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 798: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of civil and other public servants based in Dublin in his Department and agencies who have applied for decentralisation, who have been transferred to their decentralised post and are currently in position in the decentralised location outside Dublin; the number of civil and other public servants required for decentralisation under plans; the original and expected date for full decentralisation to be in place; the locations together with details of properties and land owned, purchased or planning permissions sought for the construction of premises for decentralisation; the costs incurred to date; the original budgeted for and expected total costs to be incurred for decentralisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2601/08]

Photo of Kieran O'DonnellKieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 800: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of civil servants and other public servants who have decentralised as at 31 December 2006 and the current date broken down into individual Government Departments and agencies; the number required for full decentralisation, broken down under individual departmental and agencies plans; the number of currently decentralised locations in operation; the agencies with no progress; the values of properties purchased and sold in respect of the decentralisation process to date; the other costs incurred to date with the decentralisation process, broken down by category; the number of departmental staff involved in administrating the decentralisation process since its inception; the number of planning applications in progress in relation to building decentralised premises and planning applications to be submitted, broken down by location and planning submission date; the original budgeted and the expected total costs to be incurred for decentralisation; his further proposals in this regard; the expected date for completion of the full decentralisation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3002/08]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 798 and 800 together.

My reply will deal with matters which are the direct responsibility of my Department but not with elements that relate to the decentralisation programme generally or to matters, such as property acquisition or disposal or planning, which are the responsibility of other Ministers. In this regard, the House will note the reply today of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, to related Questions.

To date, 76 of the 140 staff of my Department originally due to relocate to Co. Mayo have transferred to an interim location in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo. The equivalent number at 31 December 2006 was 70. It is planned to increase the number at the interim location to just over 100 from March 2008. It was originally planned that my Department's headquarters would relocate to Knock Airport, Co. Mayo, but An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission for that location. In July 2007 the Government decided on Charlestown, Co Mayo, as the new location for my Department's headquarters. The Office of Public Works is in negotiations for the purchase of a site at that location and it is not possible at this juncture to say precisely when the new headquarters will be ready.

The Department has fulfilled its decentralisation commitments in relation to Na Forbacha, Galway, with 10 officers in place in temporary accommodation there. The equivalent number at 31 December 2006 was 8. Permanent accommodation was planned to be in place early in 2007 but is now expected to be ready in mid-2008. Pobal have filled 25 of the 40 posts due to decentralise to Clifden, Co. Galway, in temporary accommodation. The equivalent number at 31 December 2006 was 21. Permanent accommodation is expected to be in place in the last quarter of 2009. At that stage it is envisaged that all 40 posts will be located there.

In relation to Foras na Gaeilge, 5 posts have been identified as an initial decentralisation tranche from within the overall complement of 30 posts to be relocated in Gaoth Dobhair. I am hopeful that the necessary approvals can be processed so that these 5 posts will be filled in the course of 2008. The provision of suitable accommodation is being pursued by the Office of Public Works and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Non-property costs incurred by my Department to end-July amounted to €817,467. To date the Office of Public Works has also incurred costs of about €650,000 in relation to accommodation for my Department's decentralisation programme. Originally, 2 staff members were involved in full-time administration of the decentralisation process in my Department, reducing to 1 in January 2007.

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 799: 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 2008; the breakdown of each set of figures in terms of those who are relocating from Dublin and relocating from elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2988/08]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To date, 76 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 next March and the majority of those officers will be transferring from posts outside Dublin. 10 officers are in place in Na Forbacha, Galway, fulfilling the Department's commitment in that location. 5 of the officers in question transferred from Dublin posts.

Pobal have filled 25 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. The remaining 15 positions due to relocate will be filled in Clifden, again by local recruitment, when a permanent building is in place. This is expected in late 2009.

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