Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1116: To ask the Minister for Defence 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. [2602/08]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 1117: To ask the Minister for Defence 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. [2989/08]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1118: To ask the Minister for Defence 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 it's 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. [3003/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos 1116 to 1118, inclusive, together.

The Government Decision on decentralisation, announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget Statement on 3 December 2003, provides for the transfer of my entire Department's Dublin based civil service staff to Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The number of posts to be relocated to Newbridge is about 200. A total of 338 personnel have made applications under the Cental Applications Facility (CAF) to decentralise to Newbridge, the vast majority of whom are Dublin based applicants. Currently, 143 Newbridge bound staff are in their decentralising posts which reflects about 80% of the total administrative and clerical staff requirement. All of these staff were Dublin based prior to any decentralisation-related moves and about one third were already serving in my Department in December 2003. No staff have transferred to Newbridge yet, as the construction of the Department's new headquarters is not expected to be completed until 2009.

In addition to the civil servants, 43 military personnel will be located in Newbridge. A further 335 military personnel together with 78 support staff will decentralise to the new Defence Forces Headquarters building in the Curragh Camp.

The Civil Defence Board, which is a State Authority under the aegis of the Department of Defence, transferred to its new purpose built Headquarters in Roscrea in May 2006 with a staff of 17. To date, a total of 21 staff have transferred from Dublin posts in my Department to the Civil Defence Board in Roscrea and a further 9 staff members transferred from other provincial locations. 8 staff members have transferred under the CAF to my Department's offices in Renmore, Co Galway.

My Department's Decentralisation Unit manages the decentralisation programme for the Department and currently has three members of staff. The sale of a site in Newbridge as approved by Kildare County Council will shortly be finalised. The planning process has also been completed. The OPW has selected a preferred tenderer who will carry out the construction of the Department's headquarters.