Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 3

Written Answers. - Decentralisation Programme.

John Bruton

Question:

487 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Loughrea in regard to the move of the road haulage division; the square footage of the office in which those staff are 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 Loughrea 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 road haulage division will be maintaining a location in Dublin 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 Loughrea 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 Loughrea. [31067/03]

John Bruton

Question:

488 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Mitchelstown in regard to the move of Bus Éireann; the square footage of the office in which those staff are 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 Mitchelstown 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 Bus Éireann 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 Mitchelstown 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 Mitchelstown. [31068/03]

John Bruton

Question:

489 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Shannon in regard to the move of the Irish Aviation Authority; the square footage of the office in which those staff are 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 Shannon 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 Irish Aviation Authority will be maintaining a location in Dublin 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 Shannon 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 Shannon. [31069/03]

John Bruton

Question:

490 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Ballinasloe in regard to the move of the National Roads Authority; the square footage of the office in which those staff are 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 Ballinasloe 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 National Roads Authority will be maintaining a location in Dublin 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 Ballinasloe 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 Ballinasloe. [31070/03]

John Bruton

Question:

491 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Loughrea in regard to the move of the National Safety Council; the square footage of the office in which those staff are 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 Loughrea 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 National Safety Council will be maintaining a location in Dublin 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 Loughrea 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 Loughrea. [31071/03]

John Bruton

Question:

492 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Ballinasloe in regard to the move of the railway safety commission; 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 Ballinasloe 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 railway safety commission 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 Ballinasloe 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 Ballinasloe. [31072/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 to 492, inclusive, together.

The approximate numbers and new locations of the Department of Transport divisions and the relevant agencies to be decentralised are set out in table 3 of part IV of the summary of 2004 budget measures. This is also available atwww.budget.gov.ie/2004/budmeasu04.aspI am now establishing a specific group, chaired by an assistant secretary within my Department and including representatives of each unit or agency involved, to implement this decision. While a strategic decision has been taken, many of the detailed questions raised by the Deputy will fall to that group to consider and address in partnership with those involved. Some elements will also be for the Office of Public Works or day-to-day matters for the agencies involved.

I also refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 231 to 234, inclusive, answered on Wednesday, 10 December 2003, which give further details by way of illustration.