Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the decentralisation of his Department and Army headquarters to Newbridge and Kildare town respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35740/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government decision of December 2003 in relation to decentralisation, provides for the transfer of my Department's Dublin-based Civil Service staff, together with a number of military personnel, to Newbridge, County Kildare and for the decentralisation of the Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ) to the Curragh. The number of posts to be relocated to Newbridge is approximately 200 civil service and 55 military. Construction and fitting-out of new accommodation at Station Road, Newbridge is being handled by the Office of Public Works (OPW). The building is under construction and is expected to be available for occupation early in the new year.

In relation to DFHQ, a further 335 military posts together with 78 support staff will decentralise to the new Defence Forces Headquarters building in the Curragh Camp. Procurement of the new building is being handled by the OPW. A State owned site has been identified in the Curragh and planning permission has been granted by Kildare County Council. I understand that the OPW has requested expressions of interest from contractors and that these have been evaluated and a tender list drawn up. The question of proceeding to the next stage of the project (invitation of tenders) is dependant on the necessary funding for the project being available to the OPW. This will be decided as part of the upcoming Estimates and budgetary process.