Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2004
241 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the implementation plan for each department or agency under her aegis which is to be decentralised; the costs associated with the plan; and if any alteration will be needed to the multi-year financial projections of the department or agency in question to meet any such costs. [15003/04]
View answerThe programme of decentralisation will involve major change in my Department. A key objective of the programme will be to ensure that it is implemented in a planned way, with due regard to the maintenance of high standards of service and to the effects on staff. My Department has established a project management structure to manage the decentralisation programme within the organisation. The project board is currently drawing up an implementation plan which will include an estimate of the costs associated with the programme for my Department. At this stage in the process I am not in a position to give details of the costs involved. My Department's plan will be submitted to the decentralisation implementation group by the end of May 2004, as set out in the action agenda of the group's report of 31 March.
The bodies under the aegis of my Department which are due to decentralise, namely, Comhairle and the Combat Poverty Agency are also in the process of drawing up implementation plans.
