Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Transport the way, in view of his recommendation to Government, to withdraw the decentralisation of the Railway Safety Commission from Ballinasloe, County Galway to Drogheda, County Louth, he will maintain the number to be decentralised to Ballinasloe through the National Roads Authority transfer; the number already committed; if progress has been made in providing for this change; the timescale envisaged for this move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25801/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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It was originally intended to transfer the Railway Safety Commission to Ballinasloe. However, the original proposal to move 37 posts to Drogheda was subsequently reviewed in the context of an efficiency review and the Department considered that decentralising a combination of safety investigation functions, including the Railway Safety Commission and other areas to bring the numbers up to the total requirement of 37 for Drogheda, offered greater potential for operational efficiency and value for money. The shortfall in numbers for Ballinasloe will be met by the National Roads Authority (NRA) whose overall numbers have increased by 22 since decentralisation was announced. The NRA has stated that they can send an advance party of 30 staff to Ballinasloe within a two to three year timeframe.