Full details of the Government's decision on decentralisation of 10,300 staff from Departments and the Office of Public Works were outlined by the Minister for Finance in the Budget Statement. This decision includes plans to decentralise staff from the headquarters of my Department to Portlaoise, Bord Bia, Bord Glas to Enniscorthy, as well as Teagasc to Carlow. In addition, staff from Cork city will be relocated to Macroom. Precise details of the grades and categories of staff have not yet been decided. The detailed arrangements for decentralising the staff concerned will be addressed by my Department and the relevant agencies over the coming months.
My Department is already substantially decentralised – see following table showing numbers involved. Details of the grades will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.