John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will make a decision in relation to the report of Mr. John J. Fearon of October 2007 which proposed the possible decentralisation of the Coast Guard and Maritime Administration to Drogheda which could amount to 170 jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23407/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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A minimum of 37 posts are required to decentralise to Drogheda. These were not part of the decentralisation decision announced in December 2003. Consideration was given to moving the full complement of maritime safety staff to Drogheda.

However, since Mr. Fearon's report of October, 2007, a review was undertaken by my Department in the context of the Efficiency Review and the conclusion was that a combination of accident investigation functions and other safety-related areas to bring the numbers up to the total requirement of 37 posts might more usefully transfer to Drogheda for greater operational efficiencies and value for money.

At a meeting on 27 May the Government agreed with my proposal that the Railway Safety Commission would re-locate to Drogheda instead of Ballinasloe, together with air accident investigation and marine casualty investigation functions.