Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2004
262 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Defence if assessments are underway in his Department on the activities proposed for decentralisation; the impact on the operations of the Department; the risks to the organisation attendant on this move; the measures that will be put in place to minimise disruption; and if these reports will be presented to him at an early date for consideration. [1973/04]
View answerThe Government decision on decentralisation announced by the Minister for Finance in his budget statement provides for the transfer of my Department's Dublin based Civil Service staff to Newbridge, County Kildare. The Deputy will be aware that the finance branch of my Department was decentralised to Galway in 1989 and that, in the context of the White Paper on Defence, the Government decided to decentralise the civil defence branch of my Department to Roscrea, County Tipperary. All other functions of my Department are comprehended by the decentralisation decision.
The Government decision on decentralisation also provides for the transfer of Defence Forces headquarters staff to the Curragh, County Kildare. The Deputy will be aware that the directorate of military police and the directorate of reserve forces have already decentralised to Clonmel, County Tipperary.
Civil/military working groups have been set up to consider the practical aspects of the transfer of staff to Newbridge and the Curragh. In that regard, appropriate measures will be put in place to ensure that there is no adverse impact on the operations of the Department and of Defence Forces headquarters.
