Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the annual costs incurred by his Department in the implementation of the decentralisation scheme for each of the past four years, broken down between property and non-property costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35556/08]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made by his Department on implementing the decentralisation scheme, including the number of staff who have moved under the scheme and the property bought or rented outside Dublin under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35571/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 and 372 together.

Under the Government's decentralisation programme announced in 2003, 125 posts attached to the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs were to decentralise to Limerick. Following sanction of additional posts by the Department of Finance in 2005, the total number of posts from the Division transferring to Limerick increased to 138.

I expect that the decentralisation of Irish Aid will be completed next month, with staff at that stage moving to permanent premises. Already, there are 84 officials based in interim office premises in Limerick.

The Office of Public Works is responsible for the provision of office accommodation for Irish Aid in Limerick. The property related costs associated with the decentralisation programme are a charge on that Office.

The table underneath sets out the non-property costs incurred by this Department during the period 2004-2008. The increase experienced in 2007 relates to the costs associated with the establishment of interim offices in Limerick in May of that year.