Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 347: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will list in regard to his Department and State agencies or bodies operating under the aegis of his Department, the original proposal announced in December 2003 in regard to decentralisation; the position in regard to each such proposed decentralisation; the number which have been completed; the number of persons who have been relocated; the number and proportion who have been relocated from Dublin or from other locations; the number of projects that have to be completed; the target date for completion in each case; the number of proposed projects that will not proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32022/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The following table shows the original proposal announced in December 2003 regarding decentralisation for this Department:

The functions of the National Safety Council were transferred to the Road Safety Authority on 1st September, 2006. Some ten posts from the Department's Road Haulage function and 40 Road Safety Authority Posts were decentralised to Loughrea and the move was completed in July 2007. Some nine of these 50 posts were filled by CAF applicants from Dublin with the remainder filled by CAF applicants from other locations. Decentralisation of an additional 62 Road Safety Authority posts (which were not part of the original Government decision) to Ballina was also achieved.

A minimum of 37 posts are required to decentralise to Drogheda. These were not part of the decentralisation decision announced in December 2003. Consideration was given to moving the full complement of maritime safety staff to Drogheda. However, a review was undertaken by my Department in the context of the Efficiency Review and the conclusion was that a combination of accident investigation functions and other safety-related areas to bring the numbers up to the total requirement of 37 posts might more usefully transfer to Drogheda for greater operation efficiencies and value for money. To-date no staff have decentralised to Drogheda and there is currently no target date for completion of this move.

At its meeting on 27 May the Government agreed to my proposals to relocate the Railway Safety Commission to Drogheda instead of Ballinasloe. The shortfall in numbers for Ballinasloe will be met by the National Roads Authority whose overall numbers have increased by 22 since decentralisation was announced. To-date no staff have decentralised to Ballinasloe from the NRA and there is currently no target date for completion of this move. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has recruited 36 staff for Shannon and are now located there. There is currently no target date for the completion of the move. The 200 Bus Eireann posts to decentralise to Mitchelstown are now placed on the CIE Group. To-date no staff have decentralised to Mitchelstown from the CIE Group and there is currently no target date for completion of this move.