Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005
1363 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress which has been made in regard to the decentralising of 200 members of his Department staff to Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1448/05]
View answer1365 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress which has been made in regard to decentralising 200 staff of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to Waterford; the progress which has been made in regard to acquiring a premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1583/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1363 and 1365 together.
My Department is co-operating with the Department of Finance, the decentralisation implementation group, DIG, and the Office of Public Works to ensure the active implementation of the Government's decentralisation programme for it. The programme involves relocation of staff to the four locations of Wexford, Waterford, New Ross and Kilkenny. Following the recent Government decision on the first phase of moves under the programme, the transfer of my Department's headquarters to Wexford is included in the list of those organisations considered potential early movers.
A total of 495 applications had been received at the central applications facility, CAF, by the priority cut-off date, 7 September 2004, in respect of the 661 posts to be decentralised from my Department's Dublin offices which are fillable through the CAF. A total of 31 staff from my Department's Dublin offices have applied for decentralisation to the proposed locations. Some 139 staff of my Department have also applied for decentralisation to other Government Departments or agencies.
An implementation plan, which sets out the broad issues to be addressed in implementing the decentralisation programme for my Department, has been submitted to the DIG. My Department will be submitting a revised implementation plan to the DIG by 31 March 2005.
As regards property requirements for Waterford, the Office of Public Works is currently evaluating a number of options in Waterford. This process has yet to be finalised.
