Decentralisation Programme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 May 2006

Thursday, 18 May 2006

Questions (230)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

231 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a site been acquired in Wexford for the proposed decentralised offices; if not, if a site has been identified; the length of time before the site will be acquired and offices ready for occupation; the expected timeframe for the decentralisation of staff to these offices; the number of staff who have applied and are ready to transfer with his Department to Wexford; if sufficient numbers have not applied directly from his Department, other suitable applicants to the central applications facility have been identified and approached to decentralise to Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19023/06]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche)

The Office of Public works has identified a suitable site for my Department's headquarters in Wexford. OPW are currently in negotiations with the owners of the site, Wexford Borough Council with a view to purchasing it as soon as possible. The indicative timescale provided for the completion of the headquarters is Quarter 3 2008. The Wexford County Council and Wexford Borough Council are also in the process of varying the development plan to facilitate the advancement of the project through the planning process.

At this stage a total of 130 staff have confirmed their availability to decentralise with the Department to Wexford. 50 of these are now in the Department and the process of agreeing arrangements for the early transfer of the other staff to the Department has commenced. My Department is continuing the process of contacting staff who applied to decentralise to Wexford as a second or subsequent choice or who applied after 7 September 2004 — the date for the receipt of priority applications to the Central Applications Facility.