David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 135 of 8 April 2007 the further progress that has been made in decentralisation to Youghal in particular in the sourcing of suitable temporary accommodation to allow the early decentralisation of some staff of the Public Appointments Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21946/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Public Appointments Service (PAS) will decentralise one hundred (100) posts to Youghal. Arrangements are proceeding in accordance with their Decentralisation Implementation Plan. In accordance with the indicative timescale set out in the Decentralisation Implementation Group's Report to Government in July 2007 the PAS is working towards decentralisation to Youghal in the 3rd quarter of 2009. Eleven (11) staff are currently in posts in Dublin awaiting a transfer to Youghal.

I am informed that the Commissioners of Public Works have agreed to purchase a site comprising 1.21 hectares/ 2.98 acres from Cork County Council at Youghal for the sum of €1.8 million. The intention is to build new offices on the site to accommodate 100 staff from the Valuation Office and 100 staff from the Public Appointments Service under a design/build process which will be initiated once the purchase is completed.

The purchase terms were agreed with the Council in late 2006, but the draft Contract for Sale was not received from Cork County Council's Solicitors until October 2007. The draft Contract is still under negotiation with the Council on a number of title related issues.

The Public Appointments Service has indicated that it would locate approximately 10 staff in an advance office in Youghal, if the Commissioners of Public Works could source suitable short-term office accommodation. However, no suitable accommodation has been identified to date.