Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2004
81 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the implementation plan for each Department or agency under his 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. [14992/04]
View answerThe decentralisation implementation group chaired by Mr. Philip Flynn has requested each Department and agency to submit its implementation plan by the end of May 2004. Work has already commenced on the production of these plans in my Department and the relevant agencies. All issues relevant to decentralisation, including people, property and business with appropriate indicative timescales for the completion of the move will be examined. The plan will also incorporate specific risk assessment and mitigation strategies. The cost of preparing the plans will not be significant and can be met from existing resources.
I am not in a position at this stage to comment on the possible associated costs on a multi-annual basis. Rented office space in the Dublin area is, in general, significantly more expensive than that available in areas outside the capital. In the case of existing accommodation in Dublin which is owned by the State, the combined site and building values can be expected to generate significant funds to remunerate the cost of alternative accommodation in the regions.
