Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 504: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [35549/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The vast majority of property related costs in relation to decentralisation have been paid directly by the Office of Public Works (OPW). Earlier this year the Department agreed a short term rental of storage facilities in Cavan and costs to date in 2008 are €3200. The total non-property costs incurred by the Department in respect of the decentralisation programme since 2003 and reported to date to the Department of Finance are €104,538. This expenditure relates to advance moves of functions and staff resources to Cavan and Clonakilty. The majority of costs relate to the relocation of the entire seafood functions to Clonakilty and, as the Deputy will be aware, subsequent to the relocation to Clonakilty being completed, these functions were transferred to the now Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 505: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [35564/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Decentralisation Programme as originally announced in December 2003 included the proposal to relocate the Headquarters of my Department in its entirety to Cavan Town. This involved the relocation of approximately 300 Civil Service posts. A total of 56 staff members from my Department have relocated to interim accommodation in Cavan Town to date. This interim accommodation was arranged by the Office of Public Works who are responsible for property issues under the decentralisation programme. My Department separately rents a small storage area in Cavan. The Government has recently announced that the decentralisation of the rest of my Department to Cavan is deferred pending a review in 2011.