John Bruton
Ceist:173 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number and grade of staff to move from Dublin to Portlaoise in regard to the move of his Department headquarters; the square footage of the office in which those staff are located in Dublin; if the office is owned by the State; if not, the plans for the disposal of this office once the proposed move has been effected; the precise location in Portlaoise to which the staff will move; the proposed square footage of the office accommodation to be provided there; if the accommodation in question is already built; if not, the plans for building the accommodation; if his Department headquarters will be maintaining a base in Dublin to facilitate Dáil Éireann business, meeting delegations and so on; if so, the location of this accommodation; if discussions have taken place with staff interests with regard to the move; if the staff moving will be eligible for disturbance money; if not, if the additional travelling costs and expenses claims which will be incurred has been estimated; when he expects the move to Portlaoise to be fully complete; if he expects difficulties in the administration of Department policy arising from the fact that the office will no longer be nearby; and if arrangements will be made for civil servants who are local authority tenants in Dublin to obtain similar tenancies in Portlaoise. [31013/03]