I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 to 256, inclusive, together.
The Minister for Finance announced details of the new decentralisation programme and the process underpinning the selection of locations in his Budget Statement of Wednesday, 3 December 2003. All of the functions of my Department which operate from Dublin, with the exception of Met Éireann and local Dublin services, are included in the proposals. Arising from the announcement by the Minister for Finance, my Department has held meetings of its partnership committee and departmental council.
At present, my Department has approximately 2,266 staff, of whom 904 are in industrial grades deployed at various locations around the country. A considerable number of the remaining staff already work outside Dublin in existing decentralised locations and on field duties. The payroll cost of the non-industrial staff of my Department is €61,109,000 in 2003.
Approximately 880 staff, including 800 industrial workers, will be transferred to the Office of Public Works in the new year as part of the transfer of certain operational aspects of heritage management to that body. The National Building Agency and the Local Government Computer Services Board are also included in the decentralisation proposals. Staff numbers for these bodies are 55 and 112.5 respectively, while payroll costs in 2003 are €2,950,000 and €4,093,563 respectively.
My Department will fully participate in the central implementation arrangements and has already begun to establish an internal implementation team. Issues relating to accommodation and, if necessary, legislation will be addressed through this process.