Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 February 2004
483 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made to date in arranging the transfer of his Department to Wexford; the actions that have been taken since the budget day announcement; when he envisages the first staff will move to Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2904/04]
View answerMy Department is co-operating actively with the implementation committee and the Department of Finance in relation to the decentralisation programme announced in budget 2004. An internal implementation team for decentralisation, which will report regularly to me and my Department's management advisory committee, has been set up in the Department. My Department is also committed to developing innovative approaches to information management, communications and logistics so as to maintain and improve the quality of service to be delivered under decentralised arrangements and to minimise disruption.
In its initial submission to the implementation committee, my Department emphasised that the earliest possible mobilisation of its Wexford headquarters will be important. The timescale within which the first movement of staff will take place will become clearer when the report of the implementation committee becomes available.
