Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 458: To ask the Minister for Defence the expenditure to date on decentralisation projects by his Department and agencies and organisations under his responsibility, in the period from the announcement of the plan for decentralisation announced on 3 December 2003, to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18268/09]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 459: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of staff moved to date in decentralisation projects by his Department and agencies and organisations under his responsibility, in the period from the announcement of the Government's plan for decentralisation on 3 December 2003, to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18269/09]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 460: To ask the Minister for Defence the costs anticipated in the physical move of the headquarters of his Department to its new decentralised headquarters; the expenditure to date on the designing, erection and equipping of the new departmental headquarters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18270/09]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 461: To ask the Minister for Defence the average cost to date for the movement of staff and other ancillary costs under the Government's programme for decentralisation, in his Department and ancillary agencies and organisations under his responsibility. [18271/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 to 461, inclusive, together.

The Government decision on decentralisation provides for the transfer of my Department's Dublin-based civil service staff, together with a number of military personnel, to Newbridge, Co. Kildare and for the decentralisation of the Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ) to the Curragh. The number of staff to be relocated to Newbridge is approximately 200 civil servants together with 56 military personnel. 413 military personnel will decentralise to the new DFHQ building in the Curragh. In relation to costs for the Newbridge project, site acquisition, building construction and fit-out costs are borne on the Vote of the Office of the Public Works (OPW). I understand that the total estimated cost of the project is approximately €30 million.

Costs for the DFHQ building are also borne on the Vote of the OPW. A state owned site in the Curragh has been chosen for the new building and the procurement process for construction of the building is being handled by the OPW. I understand that "Expressions of Interest" from contractors have been received by OPW and these are currently being evaluated with a view to drawing up a tender list. It is not possible to give a timescale or cost for the project until tenders have been invited. While close to 90% of clerical/administrative staff are now in place in preparation for the move to Newbridge, no staff have been moved to date. The building is under construction and is expected to be ready for occupation by December 2009. No DFHQ staff have been decentralized to date.