Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Finance the current and capital expenditure which has been incurred to date in respect of the decentralisation projects which have been deferred until a further review occurs in 2011. [38894/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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A total of €18.8m has been spent on acquiring sites in respect of those projects which are being deferred pending a review in 2011. The locations in question are Birr, Cavan, Dungarvan, Edenderry, Thomastown, Thurles and Waterford. In addition, a site has been purchased at Knock, at a cost of €390,000.

Approximately €4m has been spent to date by the OPW on the costs of renting and fitting out of mainly Civil Service properties in advance party locations where permanent accommodation has been deferred pending a review in 2011. A further €1.194m has been expended by FÁS in respect of the advance office at Birr, €856,000 was expended by the Health and Safety Authority in respect of its Kilkenny advance office and approximately €305,000 has been expended by Pobal in respect of its premises at Clifden. Staff in such locations will remain in place.

In addition, I am informed by my colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment that in parallel with the decentralisation process, Enterprise Ireland (EI) strengthened its regional focus in recent years and now has a major presence in the Shannon Region in addition to its nine other regional offices. Certain functions previously carried out by Shannon Development under delegated authority from Enterprise Ireland reverted to Enterprise Ireland on 1st January 2007 and, as part of this process, a number of posts from Shannon Development transferred to Enterprise Ireland. The agency strengthened its regional presence by establishing its new Regional Development Headquarters in Shannon and also houses its County Enterprise Coordination Unit there. Six posts were assigned to the new office in Shannon from Dublin, to manage this new Regional HQ. Currently there are 66 staff working in the EI Shannon office.

The annual rent on the Regional Development Headquarters in Shannon is €336,600. The tendered contract sum for the fit out was €1.43m, including VAT.

Further details of non-property costs expended by location have been sought from relevant Departments. I will write to the Deputy separately in this regard shortly.

The Deputy may wish to know that total income from property disposed of in Dublin between January 2004 and December 2007 was €355.9m. In addition, property valued at €75 million was transferred to the Affordable Homes Partnership. The OPW has also agreed joint venture redevelopment schemes with a minimum value of circa €125m up to the end of 2007.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons who have been relocated to each of the decentralised locations established by units or agencies under his Department; the floor areas and occupancy capacity of each of the facilities concerned; and the date by which it is intended to complete the transfer of remaining staff. [38909/08]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of staff moves that have been necessitated by the decentralisation programme in units or agencies in his Department distinguishing the moves at managerial or technical level. [38924/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together.

The following table gives a breakdown of the locations to where staff have re-located up to the end of October 2008 for my Department and for the agencies under the aegis of my Department. The table also gives details provided by the Office of Public Works of the occupancy capacity of these premises and their floor area.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Finance the facilities in Dublin which units or agencies under his Department plan to vacate as a result of the decentralisation programme; the floor areas involved; and when it is planned that they will be realised. [38939/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The following are the details of the office space surrendered or planned to be surrendered by my Department and the agencies under the aegis of my Department as a result of the decentralisation programme. The figures are approximate at this stage and are subject to review in light of ongoing business needs in my Department and in the agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Department of Finance. Under the decentralisation programme my Department surrendered approximately 2012 sq metres of space following its move to Tullamore in 2006. It is expected that a further 700sq metres will be surrendered by mid 2009 following the decentralisation to Kildare. Revenue Commissioners. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that arising from the decentralisation programme they have to date vacated approximately 837sq metres and that they expect to vacate another 1500sq metres by the end of this year.

Office of Public Works. I am advised by the OPW that following on from the recent government decision to review the move of the OPW to Kanturk in 2011, the accommodation to be vacated by the OPW under the decentralisation programme is being reassessed at this time.