John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 815: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when will a decision be made in respect of the decentralisation of his offices to Charlestown, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30733/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Decentralisation Programme my Department's headquarters are scheduled to relocate to Charlestown, Co Mayo, and the Office of Public Works (OPW) has been engaged in the process of selecting and purchasing a permanent site for my Department's headquarters at that location. I understand that negotiations are still ongoing between the OPW, the Department of Finance and relevant authorities in relation to a particular site in Charlestown, which it has identified as being suitable.

The Deputy will also be aware that the Department of Finance was recently approached by a community development organisation in relation to a property in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, with turn-key potential as a headquarters building. On foot of this approach, OPW is currently examining the property in question to ascertain its suitability. I should emphasise that this is a sensible and prudent response to the approach that has been made and implies no decision.