Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 511: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [32010/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Properties are being sought in respect of my Department and its agencies as part of the overall decentralisation programme, to be funded from the Vote of the Office of Public Works. The decentralisation programme involves the relocation of my Department's headquarters to Cavan and the relocation of three bodies under its aegis. Sustainable Energy Ireland is being decentralised to Dundalk, Ordnance Survey Ireland is being decentralised to Dungarvan and the Central Fisheries Board is being decentralised to Carrick-on-Shannon.

A permanent site has been acquired by the OPW for the Department's headquarters in Cavan. The Department is liaising with the OPW in relation to accommodation requirements there. The headquarters of the Department is scheduled to relocate in its entirety to Cavan under the programme. This will involve the relocation of approximately 300 Civil Service posts. The Decentralisation Implementation Group did not include the Department among the organisations approved for early mover status. The group set a target of the end of 2009 for the full decentralisation of the Department to Cavan. This date has since been extended to the end of 2010. Some 56 staff members from the Department have relocated to interim accommodation in Cavan. Six of them came from locations outside Dublin and the balance of 50 originated in Dublin. Discussions are ongoing with the OPW on procuring additional temporary accommodation.

Temporary accommodation has been acquired in Dundalk pending a permanent move for Sustainable Energy Ireland. The agency is liaising with the OPW on options for permanent accommodation. Two members of staff, both of whom originated in Dublin, are currently located in temporary accommodation in Dundalk. The OPW recently identified a possible permanent headquarters for the Central Fisheries Board in Carrick-on-Shannon. Matters on that front are being progressed with the board. In that regard, no firm timelines have as yet been established and no costs have been incurred. No staff have been relocated to Carrick-on-Shannon to date. Ordnance Survey Ireland is in discussions with the OPW in respect of permanent accommodation options in Dungarvan. It is carrying out a feasibility exercise in relation to a possible advance party.