Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004
607 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the timescale envisaged in the decentralisation of part of her Department to Buncrana, County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8285/04]
View answerThe transfer will be undertaken as part of the Government's decentralisation programme announced last December. There will be a major change in my Department. The move will be planned with due regard to the effects on staff and maintaining a high standard of service.
My Department established a project management structure to manage the decentralisation programme. It will support the two phases, the development of an overall departmental strategy and the development and implementation of plans for decentralising sections. A detailed project plan covering all aspects of the process involved is being prepared. It will state the following: the sequence of business activities to be decentralised, the arrangements for staff recruitment, placement and training, the estimated resources required to complete the project and the risks associated and the contingency plans to deal with them.
In addition to internal departmental planning, the Office of Public Works is trying to secure suitable accommodation in Buncrana and the other locations for my Department. The final date for the completion of moves will not be known until all accommodation and staff recruitment issues are concluded. It is expected that the programme will be substantially completed by the end of 2006.
Plans for all of the Departments involved will be considered by the decentralisation implementation group. It is due to submit an initial report by the end of the month. My Department will report progress to the group and it will report to the special Cabinet sub-committee that is overseeing the programme.
