Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 578: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of the decentralisation of her staff to Athlone; the number of staff already decentralised; the numbers yet to be decentralised and the timetable for this; the status of property acquisition and the cost involved; when the property will be ready for occupation; the numbers which it will cater for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3828/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Athlone element of the decentralisation of my Department involves the relocation of approximately 90 posts to Athlone. Twelve of these posts have already relocated to Athlone and the balance will relocate as soon as the new building in Athlone is ready for occupation. I understand that the building could be fully ready for occupation within the next 2 to 3 months. In addition to the relocating posts the new building will also accommodate in the region of 100 posts that are currently located in a temporary building on the campus in Athlone.

The new building in Athlone is sited on the same campus as my Department's existing offices in Athlone on land that was already in State ownership. The OPW is charged with the responsibility for the property aspects of the programme of decentralisation — including the procurement of property for decentralising organisations and the disposal of property in Dublin that will become surplus — so the management of and reporting on this aspect of the programme is a matter for the OPW.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 579: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of the decentralisation of the Higher Education Authority to Athlone; the number of staff already decentralised; the numbers yet to be decentralised and the timetable for this; the status of property acquisition and the cost involved; when the property will be ready for occupation; the numbers which it will cater for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3829/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is not one of the State agencies under the aegis of my Department that has been designated as an "early mover" by the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG). The acquisition of property for the programme of decentralisation is a matter for the Office of Public Works (OPW). I am not aware that any property has been acquired in connection with the decentralisation of the HEA. The timeline to the availability of accommodation in Athlone for the HEA will be a significant element in determining the timescale to its decentralisation. At present it is not possible to predict a timetable for the decentralisation of the HEA.

The decentralisation of the HEA will involve the relocation of approximately 64 posts to Athlone.