Written answers
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Department of Finance
Decentralisation Programme
10:00 pm
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding each decentralisation project which has not been suspended or completed; the number of public servants decentralised to date in each project concerned; when the final transfer will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24511/09]
Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As I announced in my Budget Statement in October last, the Government has reviewed the decentralisation programme and has identified priority elements which should proceed at this time. Decisions on the timing of implementation of the balance of the programme are being deferred pending a review in 2011 in light of budgetary developments.
The tables outline details of the number of posts to be decentralised and the staff already moved as follows:
Table 1 - completed projects
| Table 1 | |||
| Decentralisation Projects where property is already completed | |||
| Location | Organisation | Total posts to be decentralised | Staff moved to decentralising location at end March 2009 |
| Athlone | Education & Science | 93 | 88 |
| Ballina | Road Safety Authority | 62 | 62 |
| Carrick-on-Shannon (Phase I) | Social & Family Affairs | 140 | 152 |
| Clonakilty | Sea Fisheries Protection Authority | 47 | 47 |
| Killarney | Arts, Sports & Tourism | 121 | 80 |
| Kilrush | Office of the Revenue Commissioners | 57 | 57 |
| Limerick | Foreign Affairs | 139 | 130 |
| Listowel | Office of the Revenue Commissioners | 52 | 52 |
| Longford | Irish Prison Service | 142 | 126 |
| Loughrea | Road Safety Authority | 40 | 40 |
| Loughrea | Transport | 10 | 10 |
| Naas | IAASA | 15 | 12 |
| Na Forbacha | Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs | 13 | 12 |
| Navan | Coroners Service | 6 | 4 |
| Navan | Garda Civilian HR Division | 38 | 38 |
| Navan | National Property Services Regulatory Authority | 10 | 9 |
| Navan | Office of the Director of Probation Service | 18 | 15 |
| Navan | Office of the Revenue Commissioners | 100 | 100 |
| Newcastlewest | Office of the Revenue Commissioners | 51 | 51 |
| Sligo | Social & Family Affairs | 88 | 72 |
| Tipperary Town | Private Security Agency | 32 | 32 |
| Tullamore | Finance | 131 | 122 |
| Total | 1,405 | 1,311 |
Table 2 - priority projects approved by Government in October to proceed, including a property update as provided by the OPW in each case
| Table 2 | |||||
| Priority Decentralisation Projects Approved by Government to Proceed | |||||
| Location | Organisation | Total posts to be decentralised | Staff moved to decentralising location at end March 2009 | Property Update | |
| Buncrana | Social & Family Affairs | 118 | 0 | Due for completion Q4 2009 | |
| Carlow | Enterprise Trade and Employment | 257 | 98 | Planning Permission received – Bundle of 3 PPP projects. Awaiting financial close. Construction period of 24 months | |
| Charlestown (HQ location) | Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs | 164 | 100 | Expressions of Interest have been assessed. Site purchase documents with the Chief State Solicitor. Anticipated completion date Q4 2011. | |
| Claremorris (Phase I) | OPW | 104 | 31 | Tender documents being finalised. Anticipated completion date Q4 2011. | |
| Clonakilty | Agriculture, Fisheries & Food | 86 | 85 | Blocks A, B and C completed - Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and a small number of BIM staff in situ.Seafood Protection Agency staff are also being accommodated as a temporary measure until full quota of BIM staff can move in. Block D (Seafood Development Centre) to be handed over to BIM on completion of the canteen. Contract for canteen expected to be placed in Summer 2009. | |
| Clonakilty | BIM | 95 | 3 | ||
| Cork | HIQA | 100 | 42 | The OPW has procured suitable premises in a new development in Mahon, near Cork city. | |
| Curragh | Defence Forces | 413 | 0 | Part 9 of planning process completed. Expressions of Interest invited and being assessed. Anticipated completion Q4 2011. | |
| Drogheda PPP (HQ location) | Social & Family Affairs | 499 | 0 | Client brief being established. | |
| Gaoth Dobhair | Foras Na Gaeilge | 5 | 0 | Office accommodation available at Udaras na Gaeilge site in Gweedore | |
| Mullingar (HQ location) | Education & Science | 297 | 7 | Planning Permission received – Bundle of 3 PPP projects. Awaiting financial close. Construction period of 24 months | |
| Newbridge | Defence | 201 | 0 | Due for completion December 2009. | |
| Newbridge | Defence Forces HQ | 43 | 0 | Due for completion December 2009. | |
| Portlaoise (HQ location) | Agriculture, Fisheries & Food | 595 | 299 | Planning Permission received – Bundle of 3 PPP projects. Awaiting financial close. Construction period of 24 months | |
| Roscommon | Property Registration Authority | 230 | 84 | Planning permission granted. Contract expected to be placed shortly. Anticipated completion Autumn 2010. | |
| Tipperary Town | Justice, Equality & Law Reform | 186 | 63 | Tenders received. | |
| Trim (HQ location) | OPW | 334 | 36 | Shell and Core completed Q4 2008. Fit out due for completion by Summer 2009. | |
| Wexford | Environment, Heritage & Local Government | 270 | 43 | Due for completion by Summer 2009. | |
| Total | 3,997 | 891 |
Table 3 - projects deferred pending an overall review in 2011.
| Table 3 | |||
| Decentralisation Projects Deferred, Pending a Review in 2011* | |||
| Location | Organisation | Staff moved to decentralising location at end March 2009 | Moves Deferred |
| Arklow | NSAI | 124 | |
| Athlone | Higher Education Authority | 64 | |
| Athy (advance party in place) | Office of Revenue Commissioners | 73 | 180 |
| Ballinasloe | National Roads Authority | 110 | |
| Birr (advance party in place) | FÁS | 23 | 378 |
| Carrickmacross | Social & Family Affairs | 85 | |
| Carrick on Shannon | Central Fisheries Board | 54 | |
| Carrick on Shannon (Phase II) | Social & Family Affairs | 90 | |
| Cavan (advance party in place) - HQ | Communications Energy & Natural Resources | 56 | 244 |
| Cavan/Portlaoise/Galway | HIQA | 80 | |
| Claremorris (Phase II) | OPW | 38 | |
| Clifden (advance party in place) | Pobal | 25 | 17 |
| Donegal | Social & Family Affairs | 258 | |
| Drogheda | Transport | 37 | |
| Drogheda | Citizens Information Board | 49 | |
| Drogheda | Local Government Computer Service Board | 101 | |
| Drogheda | Railway Safety Commission | 16 | |
| Dundalk (advance party in place) | Sustainable Energy Ireland | 2 | 23 |
| Dungarvan | OSI | 206 | |
| Edenderry | FETAC | 44 | |
| Edenderry | HETAC | 34 | |
| Edenderry | NQAI | 18 | |
| Enniscorthy | Bord Bia | 76 | |
| Fermoy | Agriculture Fisheries & Food | 100 | |
| Gaoth Dobhair | Foras na Gaeilge | 25 | |
| Kanturk | Office of Public Works | 88 | |
| Kildare | Office of the Revenue Commissioners | 380 | |
| Kildare | Finance - CMOD | 30 | |
| Kilkenny | Environment Heritage & Local Government | 62 | |
| Kilkenny | Arts Council | 49 | |
| Killarney | Irish Sports Council | 31 | |
| Macroom | Agriculture Fisheries & Food | 100 | |
| Mallow | Fáilte Ireland | 163 | |
| Mitchelstown | CIÉ Group | 200 | |
| Monaghan | Combat Poverty Agency | 25 | |
| Naas | Health Service Executive | 300 | |
| New Ross | Environment Heritage & Local Government | 125 | |
| Portarlington (advance party) | Data Protection Commissioner | 23 | 0 |
| Portarlington (advance party in Portlaoise) | Equality Tribunal (civil service) | 8 | 34 |
| Portarlington (advance party in Portlaoise) | NCCA (civil service) | 12 | 25 |
| Portarlington | NEWB | 14 | |
| Roscrea (advance party in place) | Equality Authority (civil service) | 16 | 39 |
| Roscrea | Garda Ombudsman Commission | 23 | |
| Shannon (advance party in place) | Enterprise Ireland** | 66 | 226 |
| Shannon | Irish Aviation Authority | 102 | |
| Thomastown (advance party in Kilkenny) | Health & Safety Authority | 33 | 83 |
| Thurles (advance party in place) | Garda Headquarters CGVU & FCPS | 133 | 66 |
| Waterford | Environment Heritage & Local Government | 225 | |
| Wexford | National Building Agency | 63 | |
| Youghal | Public Appointments Service | 100 | |
| Youghal | Valuation Office | 100 | |
| Total | 470 | 5,104 |
*This Review will take account of the impact of the Rationalisation of State Agencies
**Including 40 existing Shannon Development and EI posts located in Shannon as part of a parallel process.
Arising from the current economic environment, the Government has announced a number of policies affecting overall public service numbers and arrangements for the filling of vacancies which will impact on the implementation of the Decentralisation Programme. In that context, the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG) is currently in the process of reviewing the property, staffing and business position of each of the priority locations where contractual commitments have not yet been finalised and will report back to me on its findings. The timeframe for the completion of each project and the transfer of staff will be determined having due regard to the outcome of that work.
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