John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the commitment to decentralise more than 200 staff from his Department to Waterford City; when the transfer of these positions to Waterford will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34470/08]

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 and a small co-ordination section 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 OPW identified a suitable site in Waterford City for the Department's offices and purchase terms have been agreed with Waterford City Council. The contract for sale of the 2.9 acre site located at Bolton Street/Catherine Street was signed on 12 December 2007.

The Government decided in July 2008 that further expenditure for the acquisition of accommodation for decentralisation would await detailed consideration of reports from the Decentralisation Implementation Group.