Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 524: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the individual current and capital budgets allocated by Government, whether through the Office of Public Works or through Departmental and agency budgets, for the provision of new office accommodation for agencies and Departments (details supplied) as part of the decentralisation programme; the status of the process of securing new office accommodation for these agencies and Departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23581/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Details of progress in securing new office accommodation for the Agencies, which are referred to above by the Deputy, are set out as follows:

Under the Government's decentralisation programme the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is due to relocate to Arklow, Co. Wicklow. The number required to decentralise from the NSAI is 132. To date, no costs have been incurred by the NSAI in relation to the provision of new accommodation as part of the decentralisation programme. The accommodation requirements for the NSAI in Arklow are being addressed by the OPW. To date no progress has been made in identifying or securing suitable office accommodation in the Arklow area.

The National Consumer Agency is scheduled to move to Cork city mid 2009. To date, no costs have been incurred by the NCA in relation to the provision of new accommodation as part of the decentralisation programme.

The NCA has submitted its accommodation requirements to OPW and has had a number of meetings with a view to identifying a suitable location in Cork city.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is to move 110 posts to Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny as part of the decentralisation programme. In anticipation of the move to Thomastown, the Authority established an interim office in Kilkenny city and to date 27 staff decentralised to that office are awaiting transfer to Thomastown, when the new premises there are completed. The current situation regarding the Thomastown site is that site purchase is about to be completed. No premises occupation date has yet been agreed with the OPW. The annual rental cost of the Kilkenny interim office is in the order of €79,000 per annum. On a pro rata basis, this amounts to c. €33,000 to end May 2008. The budget allocated to cover the annual rental cost for the Kilkenny office is €79,000.

Enterprise Ireland (EI), working closely with the Office of Public Works, (OPW) has identified but not yet acquired, a preferred site for the construction of a new HQ building in Shannon. The preferred site is a 13-acre site owned by Shannon Development. In co-operation with Shannon Development and the OPW, the site was valued and a feasibility study carried out. The site occupies a prime position in Shannon and is considered suitable for a major landmark building or civic structure.

To date, no costs have been incurred by EI in relation to the provision of new accommodation as part of the decentralisation programme.

Under the Government's decentralisation programme, FÁS is due to transfer its head office including some 383 posts to Birr, County Offaly. FÁS has completed the purchase of 5.59 acres (approximately) in Birr, Co. Offaly. A Planning Application for the FÁS portion of the site access road and site entrance is currently being progressed. In the meantime, FÁS has leased a floor of a building within the Birr Technology Centre to accommodate staff in the decentralised location pending the construction and fitting out of a permanent Headquarters. The current and capital expenditure on the provision of new office accommodation by FÁS as part of the decentralisation programme up to the end of May is as follows:

The allocation of capital and current budgets for the FÁS decentralisation programme is dealt with in the context of the annual Estimates process.

More generally, in relation to the allocation of budgets by Government for the whole Government Decentralisation Programme, I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Finance, that of the total allocation of €833 million provided in the NDP for Decentralisation, an estimate of €60 million is provided for agencies whose costs will not be funded through the OPW vote. The balance of €773 million represents the estimated cost of providing accommodation for the Departments and agencies whose accommodation will be paid for by the OPW.

Property solutions are being pursued in respect of some remaining locations being funded through the OPW vote and firm scale costs will emerge on foot of actual cost proposals being received from the market. It would not be possible to give definitive costings in advance of final agreement on specific proposals. It is expected however that overall costs will remain within the published estimate figures.