Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 578: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs 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. [23586/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Government's Decentralisation programme, the Department's headquarter sections and the Citizen's Information (formerly known as Comhairle) are scheduled to relocate to Drogheda. In addition, the Combat Poverty Agency is scheduled to relocate to Monaghan under the programme. The Office of Public Works is responsible for the acquisition of all decentralised accommodation for my Department and its agencies.

The Commissioners for Public Works have advised that they have acquired sites in Drogheda for the relocation of the Department's headquarters and for the Citizens Information Board and are currently finalising accommodation briefs for both of these offices.

With regard to the relocation of the Combat Poverty Agency to Monaghan, the Commissioners are considering a State owned site for the relocation of this agency.

Of the total allocation of €833 million provided in the National Development Plan 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.