David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress that has been made in the decentralisation of the Public Appointments Service and the Valuation Office to Youghal; further to Parliamentary Question No. 205 of 17 June 2008, if the contract for the sale of a site by Cork County Council to the Office of Public Works has been finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31306/08]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 70 of 3 July 2008, the number of staff assigned for decentralisation to Youghal who are awaiting a move under the Public Appointments Services and Valuation Office respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31307/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 69 together.

I understand that the Commissioners of Public Works had agreed terms with Cork County Council, to purchase a site in Youghal, comprising 3 acres approximately, to accommodate new decentralised offices for the Public Appointment Commission and the Valuation Office. A number of title and other issues arose in relation to the Contract for Sale and these were in the process of being resolved by Solicitors for both parties prior to completion of the Contract.

However, the Government decided on 8 July last that further expenditure on the acquisition of accommodation for decentralisation would be paused pending the review by Government of reports from the Decentralisation Implementation Group ( DIG) and the Implementation Group of Secretaries General. Until the outcome of the review is available, no further expenditure on the acquisition of decentralisation sites will be undertaken by the Commissioners of Public Works, except in cases where a legally binding contract exists.

Under the decentralisation programme both the Public Appointments Service and the Valuation Office are required to transfer one hundred (100) posts each to Youghal. I understand that there are currently twelve (12) staff in the Public Appointments Service and fifteen (15) staff in the Valuation Office assigned for decentralisation who are awaiting a move to Youghal.