P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans in respect of the decentralisation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32309/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism was designated for relocation to Killarney, County Kerry, under the Government's Decentralisation Programme, which was announced in the 2004 budget. The Department, excluding the National Archives, was designated an "early mover" by the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG).

To date, 79 members of staff (including two service officers who were recruited locally) have relocated to the new purpose built offices which opened last December in Killarney. However, the Government moratorium on recruitment and promotion has impacted on the ability of the Department to proceed with further transfers at present. The Department is currently working towards the completion of the decentralisation process while simultaneously providing an efficient and effective service to the Department's stakeholders.

Under the Government's Decentralisation Programme the Arts Council, Irish Sports Council and Fáilte Ireland were due to decentralise to Kilkenny, Killarney and Mallow respectively. The decentralisation of these agencies has been deferred pending a review in 2011. No accommodation has been purchased to facilitate the decentralisation of the three State agencies.