Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2005
302 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the decentralisation of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to Knock Airport. [36397/05]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that my Department is due to decentralise in the main to Knock Airport by the end of 2007. As part of this process, my Department is planning to relocate up to 70 staff in advance of the main move subject, inter alia, to the availability of suitable temporary accommodation in the general area. My Department and the Office of Public Works are currently seeking to source suitable accommodation and I hope that this advance move can take place from mid-2006.
The Office of Public Works is also in the process of finalising the purchase of a site for a permanent headquarters building for my Department. I am informed that it is expected that a competition will be advertised shortly for the design and building of the headquarters and that work on site should begin in the second quarter of next year. All necessary work on the building is scheduled to be completed in time for staff to move to Knock Airport by the original deadline.
