Under the Government's Decentralisation Programme a number of my Department's operations are being decentralised to Wexford and New Ross. As outlined in the most recent Progress Report, dated September 2006, from the Decentralisation Implementation Group, the indicative timescale for completion of the Department's Headquarters in Wexford is the third quarter of 2008 while that for New Ross is the last quarter of 2009.
At this stage a total of 157 staff have confirmed their availability to decentralise with the Department to both locations. 78 of these are now working in the Department and the process of arranging for the transfer of the other staff to the Department is continuing.