Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 1426: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when it is expected that his Department will have completed its move to County Wexford under the decentralisation process; when it is expected to open for business there; the number of applicants who have applied for posts in Wexford; and the number of vacancies expected to arise as a result of the move. [29583/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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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).

The first move will be the transfer of 270 posts to Wexford during 2009. An advance office was established in Wexford in June, 2007 and 46 staff are assigned to it. 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.

232 staff are available for the 270 posts being decentralised (86% of the numbers required) and 175 of these staff are now in situ in the Department. The Department expects that the full staff complement will be achieved in the period ahead.