Vol. 577 No. 3
392 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has consulted with the boards or management or staff of the agencies under the aegis of his Department in regard to proposals to decentralise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30953/03]
I have scheduled meetings on Wednesday of this week with the chairpersons and chief executive officers of the three agencies being decentralised – the Irish Sports Council, the Arts Council and Fáilte Ireland – to discuss all issues relevant to the decentralisation programme. The Secretary General of my Department already had an initial briefing meeting with the three chief executive officers on the day the decentralisation programme was announced.
393 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Killarney in regard to the move of his Department headquarters; the square footage of the office in which those staff are currently located in Dublin; if the office is owned by the State; if not, the plans for the disposal of this office once the proposed move has been effected; the precise location in Killarney to which the staff will move; the proposed square footage of the office accommodation to be provided there; if the accommodation in question is already built; if not, the plans for building the accommodation; if his Department headquarters will be maintaining a location in Dublin in order to provide a base for assistance to him in regard to Dáil Éireann business, meeting delegations and so on; if so, the location of this accommodation; if discussions have taken place with staff interests with regard to the move; if the staff moving will be eligible for disturbance money; if not, if an estimate has been made of the additional travelling costs and expenses claims which will be incurred; when he expects the move to Killarney to be fully complete; if he expects that difficulties will arise in regard to the administration of policy in his Department arising from the fact that the office will no longer be close; and if arrangements will be made for civil servants who are local authority tenants in Dublin to obtain similar tenancies in Killarney. [31063/03]
394 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Killarney in regard to the move of the Arts Council; the square footage of the office in which those staff are currently located in Dublin; if the office is owned by the State; if not, the plans for the disposal of this office once the proposed move has been effected; the precise location in Killarney to which the staff will move; the proposed square footage of the office accommodation to be provided there; if the accommodation in question is already built; if not, the plans for building the accommodation; if the Arts Council will be maintaining a location in Dublin in order to provide a base for assistance to him in regard to Dáil Éireann business, meeting delegations and so on; if so, the location of this accommodation; if discussions have taken place with staff interests with regard to the move; if the staff moving will be eligible for disturbance money; if not, if an estimate has been made of the additional travelling costs and expenses claims which will be incurred; when he expects the move to Killarney to be fully complete; if he expects that difficulties will arise in regard to the administration of policy in his Department arising from the fact that the office will no longer be close; and if arrangements will be made for civil servants who are local authority tenants in Dublin to obtain similar tenancies in Killarney. [31064/03]
395 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Mallow in regard to the move of Fáilte Ireland; the square footage of the office in which those staff are currently located in Dublin; if the office is owned by the State; if not, the plans for the disposal of this office once the proposed move has been effected; the precise location in Mallow to which the staff will move; the proposed square footage of the office accommodation to be provided there; if the accommodation in question is already built; if not, the plans for building the accommodation; if Fáilte Ireland will be maintaining a location in Dublin in order to provide a base for assistance to him in regard to Dáil Éireann business, meeting delegations and so on; if so, the location of this accommodation; if discussions have taken place with staff interests with regard to the move; if the staff moving will be eligible for disturbance money; if not, if an estimate has been made of the additional travelling costs and expenses claims which will be incurred; when he expects the move to Mallow to be fully complete; if he expects that difficulties will arise in regard to the administration of policy in his Department arising from the fact that the office will no longer be close; and if arrangements will be made for civil servants who are local authority tenants in Dublin to obtain similar tenancies in Mallow. [31065/03]
396 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Killarney in regard to the move of the Sports Council; the square footage of the office in which those staff are currently located in Dublin; if the office is owned by the State; if not, the plans for the disposal of this office once the proposed move has been effected; the precise location in Killarney to which the staff will move; the proposed square footage of the office accommodation to be provided there; if the accommodation in question is already built; if not, the plans for building the accommodation; if the Sports Council will be maintaining a location in Dublin in order to provide a base for assistance to him in regard to Dáil Éireann business, meeting delegations and so on; if so, the location of this accommodation; if discussions have taken place with staff interests with regard to the move; if the staff moving will be eligible for disturbance money; if not, if an estimate has been made of the additional travelling costs and expenses claims which will be incurred; when he expects the move to Killarney to be fully complete; if he expects that difficulties will arise in regard to the administration of policy in his Department arising from the fact that the office will no longer be close; and if arrangements will be made for civil servants who are local authority tenants in Dublin to obtain similar tenancies in Killarney. [31066/03]
400 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number in respect of the sections of his Department or boards or agencies operating under the aegis of his Department, it is proposed to decentralised which are currently housed in leased office space or premises; the annual amount paid in rent in each case; when the lease runs out in each case; if there are financial penalties involved in the breaking of the lease in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31300/03]
401 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the numbers employed by category and grade in his Department in which decentralisation is involved; the current numbers by grade in each office decentralised to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30817/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 393 to 396, inclusive, and Nos. 400 and 401 together.
In regard to Question No. 394, for the information of the Deputy, the Arts Council will be moving to Kilkenny, not to Killarney, as stated in his question.
Details of the numbers and grades of staff together with the square footage of the offices occupied by my Department and its three agencies being decentralised are set out along with details of staff already decentralised in the following appendix. The Museum of Irish Country Folklife is the only area of my Department which has been already decentralised. It is located at Turlough Park House, Castlebar, County Mayo. There are currently 26 posts at this location.
The building occupied by my Department in Kildare Street is owned by the Office of Public Works, and the building in South Frederick Street is leased by the Office of Public Works, as is the Irish Sports Council's premises in Fitzwilliam Square. The Arts Council has commercial lease arrangements with two landlords for adjacent buildings in Merrion Square. The rent in total is €249,748 per annum. Termination arrangements will need to be negotiated for the unexpired portion of the leases, 14 years and 13 years respectively, and the council is seeking professional advice in this regard.
