Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 3

Written Answers. - Decentralisation Programme.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

160 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence the number in respect of the sections of his Department, boards or agencies operating under the aegis of his Department, it is proposed to decentralise which are housed in leased office space or premises; the annual amount paid in rent in each case; when the lease runs out in each case; if there are financial penalties involved in the breaking of the lease in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31294/03]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith):

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government decision on decentralisation announced by the Minister for Finance in his recent Budget Statement provides for the transfer of my Department's Dublin based Civil Service staff to Newbridge and the transfer of Defence Forces Headquarters staff to the Curragh, County Kildare. One section of Defence Forces headquarters occupies leased office space at Park House, North Circular Road, Dublin 7. The lease, which I understand is due to expire in 2013, is administered by the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the provision of official accommodation for Government Departments.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

161 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Defence the numbers employed by category and grade in his Department in which decentralisation is involved; the current numbers by grade in each office decentralised to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30817/03]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith):

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government decision on decentralisation announced by the Minister for Finance in his recent Budget Statement provides for the transfer of all my Department's Dublin based Civil Service staff to Newbridge, County Kildare. There are currently 221 staff, including worksharing staff, serving in grades as follows:

Secretary General	1
Assistant Secretary	2
Head of Corporate Services	1
Principal	9
Chief Technical Officer	1
Accountant	1
Special Adviser to Minister	1
Assistant Principal	21
Higher Executive Officer	43
Properties Officer	1
Executive Officer	50
Staff Officer	16
Clerical Officer	50
Examiner of Maps	1
Visually Impaired Telephonist	1
Storeman	1
Head Services Officer	1
Services Officer	10
Services Attendant	2
Cleaners	8

The Government decision also provided for the transfer of 300 Defence Forces headquarters staff to the Curragh, County Kildare. All Defence Forces ranks up to and including Lt. General – Chief of Staff – will be involved.

The Deputy will be aware that, in the context of the White Paper on Defence, the Directorate of Military Police, Directorate of Reserve Forces and Headquarters 1 Southern Brigade FCA, comprising 24 Defence Forces personnel, in ranks from private up to and including colonel, decentralised to Kickham Barracks, Clonmel, County Tipperary in 2002.

The Deputy will also be aware that the finance branch of my Department was decentralised to Galway in 1989. There are currently 194 staff, including worksharing staff, serving in the finance branch of my Department located in Galway, as follows:

Principal	2
Assistant Principal	6
Higher Executive Officer	20
Executive Officer	29
Staff Officer	21
Clerical Officer	107
Services Officer	6
Watchman – Non resident	3