Vol. 576 No. 6
253 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the staff or staff representatives in his Department or boards or agencies under the aegis of his Department, which had been consulted in regard to the proposals on decentralisation set out in the Budget Statement of the Minister for Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30291/03]
254 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the selection process used to decide on each such location in respect of each location identified in Phase 1, 2 and 3 of the proposed programme of decentralisation set out in the Budget Statement of the Minister for Finance, in respect of his Department, or boards or agencies under the aegis of his Department; the other locations that were considered; the criteria which were used to evaluate different possible locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30306/03]
255 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the functions or sections of his Department, or boards or agencies under the aegis of his Department, it is proposed to decentralise in respect of each location identified in Phase 1, 2 and 3 of the proposed programme of decentralisation set out in the Budget Statement of the Minister for Finance; the grades and numbers of staff who will be transferred; the estimated total payroll costs of those staff; the size of the office space that will be required for their accommodation; the inquiries which have been made to date regarding availability of office space at each such location; the estimated cost of such office space; the estimated total costs of the decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30321/03]
256 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the legislation required to allow for decentralisation of any section of his Department; the section involved; the legislation which must be amended; the timetable for the publication of the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30351/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 to 256, inclusive, together.
The Minister for Finance announced details of the new decentralisation programme and the process underpinning the selection of locations in his Budget Statement of Wednesday, 3 December 2003. All of the functions of my Department which operate from Dublin, with the exception of Met Éireann and local Dublin services, are included in the proposals. Arising from the announcement by the Minister for Finance, my Department has held meetings of its partnership committee and departmental council.
At present, my Department has approximately 2,266 staff, of whom 904 are in industrial grades deployed at various locations around the country. A considerable number of the remaining staff already work outside Dublin in existing decentralised locations and on field duties. The payroll cost of the non-industrial staff of my Department is €61,109,000 in 2003.
Approximately 880 staff, including 800 industrial workers, will be transferred to the Office of Public Works in the new year as part of the transfer of certain operational aspects of heritage management to that body. The National Building Agency and the Local Government Computer Services Board are also included in the decentralisation proposals. Staff numbers for these bodies are 55 and 112.5 respectively, while payroll costs in 2003 are €2,950,000 and €4,093,563 respectively.
My Department will fully participate in the central implementation arrangements and has already begun to establish an internal implementation team. Issues relating to accommodation and, if necessary, legislation will be addressed through this process.
