Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1730. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the location of the headquarters of his Department; the number of civil servants based there; the number of civil servants based in each other location that his department has an office; the town each one of these offices is located in; the reason that the headquarters of his department is not located in a rural area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37869/17]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Rural and Community Development was established following the enactment of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2017 on the 19 July 2017.

The functions which transferred to my Department include the Rural Division from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaelteacht, the Community Division from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and Charities Regulatory Authority from the Department of Justice and Equality.

Negotiations are on-going with these Departments and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to determine the final staffing complement. 

The Department is currently based in a number of locations around the country including Dublin. The Department will be headquartered in Dublin, with a significant staffing complement in Ballina, Co. Mayo. The three Departments from which the new Department is being formed have already significant operations in Dublin.

Discussions are on-going with the Office of Public Works around permanent accommodation arrangements for the Dublin-based staff.