Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of plans to decentralise his Department's headquarters to Mullingar in 2010; the staff numbers presently employed in the section of his Department to be decentralised; the staff numbers who have confirmed they will move; the staff numbers who have sought transfers to units within his Department; the staff numbers who have confirmed they want to stay in Dublin and be redeployed to other Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22319/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The headquarters of my Department will decentralise to Mullingar when the new office space is ready for occupation. I understand that an application for planning permission for the new building is with Westmeath County Council at present. The decentralisation of the headquarters of my Department to Mullingar will involve the relocation of approximately 316 posts.

One hundred and twenty one (121) of the people assigned to these posts have indicated that they will relocate to Mullingar. One hundred (100) civil servants in other departments/offices who have applied to decentralise to Mullingar have accepted offers of transfer from my Department. Transfer arrangements for these people are being made on an on-going basis. Civil servants are making application to relocate to Mullingar on a continuous basis. My Department will begin the task of processing the more recent applications as soon as the relocation of posts to Athlone, which is underway at present, is completed at the end of this month.

The number of people remaining in the Department who have confirmed that they wish to remain in Dublin is in the region of 123.