Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the moneys under the decentralisation programme for the period from 3 July to date in 2008 that have been expended, properties purchased and employees decentralised specifying all relevant locations under each of these headings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32119/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Since the commencement of the Decentralisation programme in my Department, quarterly returns have been submitted to the Central Decentralisation Unit within the Department of Finance detailing expenditure under the heading of non-property costs.

Table 1 below sets out the expenditure incurred since 3 July 2008 for the locations to which my Department is committed under the programme of decentralisation. The total outturn for non-property costs for this period is € 8171.

Table 2 below sets out the expenditure incurred by my Department from 3 July 2008 to date under the 5 subheads associated with non-property costs.

The Office of Public Works (OPW), who is charged with securing accommodation for the Programme of Decentralisation, has advised that no properties have been purchased from 3 July 2008 to date.

Since 3 July 2008, 4 posts have relocated to Carrick-on-Shannon under the Programme of Decentralisation. In the same period, 16 officers have transferred to other offices of the Department to fill vacancies created by the current programme and 11 staff members transferred to other Government Departments for the purpose of their decentralisation programmes.

In addition, since 3 July 2008, 25 staff have been assigned to the Department in preparation for the relocation of business units to Buncrana and are currently based in Dublin and Letterkenny, pending the completion of accommodation in Buncrana.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Defence the moneys under the decentralisation programme for the period from 3 July to date in 2008 that have been expended, properties purchased and employees decentralised specifying all relevant locations under each of these headings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32112/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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There has been no expenditure on decentralisation by my Department in the period since 3rd July.

The Deputy will be aware that the Government decision on decentralisation provides for the transfer of my Department's Dublin-based civil service staff, together with a number of military personnel, to Newbridge, Co. Kildare and for the decentralisation of the Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ) to the Curragh.

In relation to the Newbridge project, site acquisition, building construction and fit-out costs are borne on the Vote of the Public Works (OPW). I understand that the total estimated cost of the project is approximately €30 million.

While close to 90% of clerical/administrative staff are now in place in preparation for the move to Newbridge, no staff have been moved to date. The building is under construction and is expected to be ready for occupation by December 2009.

In relation to the decentralisation of DFHQ to the Curragh, a state-owned site in the Curragh has been chosen for a new building. The total cost and timescale for completion of the project will be determined by the outcome of the proposed tender competition which is being prepared by OPW and which is subject to approval of the necessary funding. Expenditure on the project will be borne on the Vote for the OPW.