Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 335: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [38888/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The vast majority of property related costs in relation to Decentralisation have been paid directly by the Office of Public Works.

Earlier this year the Department agreed a short-term rental of storage facilities in Cavan and current expenditure to date in 2008 is €3200.

The total non-property (current) costs incurred by the Department in respect of the Decentralisation Programme since 2003 are €98,065. This figure is the latest cumulative data relating to expenditure by my Department, reported to the Department of Finance on Friday 24 October 2008.

This expenditure relates principally 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 of the former Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources 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.

In addition, expenditure of €9,276 was incurred in respect of Bord Iascaigh Mhara and that agency is no longer under the remit of my Department. No expenditure has been recorded for the Ordnance Survey of Ireland (OSi) since it transferred to the remit of my Department.

Expenditure of €1,752 was incurred by the Central Fisheries Board. Information in relation to the level of expenditure by Sustainable Energy Ireland is being collated by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy in the near future.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 336: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [38903/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government's Decentralisation Programme involves the relocation of my Department's headquarters to Cavan and the relocation of three bodies under its aegis, namely Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) to Dundalk, Ordnance Survey Ireland to Dungarvan and the Central Fisheries Board to Carrick-on-Shannon. These relocation proposals have been deferred pending review in 2011.

Some 54 staff members from my Department have relocated to interim accommodation in Elm House, Cavan, to date. Elm House is shared with a number of tenants and the exact area is detailed in lease agreements managed by the Office of Public Works. I can however, advise the Deputy that approximately 700 square metres of that building is occupied by my Department.

Two staff members from SEI have relocated to Finnabair Business Park, Dundalk to date. Management of this accommodation is an operational matter for SEI and I have no function in this matter.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 337: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [38918/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government's Decentralisation Programme involves the relocation of my Department's headquarters to Cavan and the relocation of three bodies under its aegis, namely Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) to Dundalk, Ordnance Survey Ireland to Dungarvan and the Central Fisheries Board to Carrick-on-Shannon. These have been deferred pending review in relocation proposals in 2011.

Some 54 administrative staff have decentralised to my Department's offices in Elm House, Cavan. Of these, 18 are at Higher Executive Officer grade or above.

Two staff members from SEI, one manager and one programme manager, have decentralised to Dundalk, to date.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 338: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38933/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The original proposal under the Decentralisation Programme, announced in 2003, was that the Department's HQ in its entirety would relocate to Cavan. In addition, the seafood functions of the former Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources would relocate to Clonakilty.

As the Deputy will be aware, the move to Clonakilty of the seafood functions, now under the remit of the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, has already been completed. The Deputy will also be aware that the proposed headquarters relocation to Cavan has been deferred and is to be reviewed in 2011.

Until that review is complete it is not possible to plan for space, which may be vacated by the Department or to provide accurate timelines for same.

I can advise the Deputy that, due primarily to the transfer of Departmental functions in 2007 and also to the decentralisation of an advance party to Cavan, my Department has, in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW), significantly rationalised its accommodation requirements in Dublin on a phased basis.

While some of the former Departmental functions stationed in Leeson Lane, Dublin, were transferred to the Department of Transport in 2006, my Department has been engaged in a withdrawal of all Departmental functions from that building and expects the only remaining function, involving some 20 staff, to relocate to our Adelaide Road HQ early in 2009.

The Leeson Lane building is managed by the OPW and advice on relevant floor areas is a matter for that office.

In relation to the agencies under the remit of my Department, the proposed relocation of Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) to Dundalk, the Ordnance Survey of Ireland (OSi) to Dungarvan and the Central Fisheries Board to Carrick-on-Shannon are also to be reviewed in 2011. The management of property and accommodation is an operational matter for the agencies themselves and I have no function in that regard.