Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 920: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of staff who have been moved to date to decentralised locations; the number who moved with their post; the number who have moved from other public service posts in Dublin; the number who have moved from other public service posts outside Dublin; and the number of new recruits. [28830/08]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 921: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of Civil Service staff to be decentralised in respect of staff employed in specialised technical posts and in respect of administration posts at executive officer or higher; the number who have moved to date; the number who have opted to move with their posts; and the position in this regard in each business unit being moved. [28836/08]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 923: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the effect decentralisation is having on staffing levels within his Department; the effect it is having on the roll-out of programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28853/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 920, 921 and 923 together.

Under the decentralisation programme, all Dublin based operations of my Department are being decentralised, with the exception of Met Éireann, ENFO, the Private Residential Tenancies Board and a co-ordination unit which it is proposed to retain in Dublin to assist with the Department's Dáil and other business. A total of 682 Dublin based posts will be transferred to four locations in the South East: Wexford (270 posts); Waterford (225 posts); New Ross (125 posts) and Kilkenny (62 posts).

Of these 682 posts, 134 are from the Department's professional/technical cadre (20% of total). A further 391 posts (57% of total) are at Executive Officer grade or higher. To date 17 internal applicants have applied to move with the Department to the South East.

My Department is managing the decentralisation to four separate locations in the south east and is facilitating the transfer of staff to other decentralising Departments and also releasing significant numbers of staff who have opted to remain in Dublin to other Departments under the Dublin Arrangements.

The first move will be the transfer of 270 posts to Wexford in Q1, 2009. An advance office was established in Wexford in June, 2007 and 46 staff are assigned to it. This consists of 2 staff who moved from posts within the Department, 25 staff who moved from posts in other Departments and a further 19 who were recruited or promoted to decentralise, including 1 recruited locally. Of the 46 staff, 3 staff have moved from posts outside Dublin.

The Department's new building in Wexford is under construction and is expected to be completed by end December, 2008. The accommodation will be ready for occupation from February, 2009 and the Department will then transfer the staff complement into these offices on a phased basis from Q1, 2009; 212 staff are available for the 270 posts being decentralised (79% of the numbers required) and 144 staff are now in situ in the Department.

Preparations for the Wexford move have resulted in large movements of staff into and out of the Department including a 100% turnover of staff in some Business Units. I am satisfied that the required number of staff (270) will be in situ in the Department in advance of the phased transfer to Wexford commencing in February, 2009. Implementation of the decentralisation programme is being undertaken in a manner which minimises to the greatest extent possible any significant impacts on the delivery of my Department's business agendas.

My Department is operating within its authorised staffing levels of 1,319 and reports on its staffing numbers to the Department of Finance on a monthly basis.