Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the decisions he will take in 2011 under the decentralisation programme in view of the current fiscal situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45177/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Government decision on decentralisation included the relocation of some 600 posts of my Department to Portlaoise. Since the decentralisation programme began there has been an increase in Portlaoise of some 300 posts across a wide number of Divisions bringing the total there to almost 500 posts. Work to progress this programme further in 2011 will take account of the evolving operating environment and will have regard to the moratorium on staff numbers, the National Recovery Plan and any measures that may be contained in Budget 2011.

The Fisheries function was transferred to my Department in 2007 and the move of that function of my Department to Clonakilty, comprising some 85 posts, is now complete. As the Deputy will be aware the Government announced in 2008 the deferment of aspects of the decentralisation programme pending a review to be completed in 2011. The effect of this decision on my Department was to defer progress on decentralisation plans for Fermoy and Macroom until the findings of this review have been published.