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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 3

Written Answers. - Decentralisation Programme.

John Bruton

Ceist:

593 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Buncrana in regard to the move of her Department staff; 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 Buncrana 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 her Department staff will be maintaining a location in Dublin to provide a base for assistance to her in regard to 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 an estimate has been made of the additional travelling costs and expenses claims which will be incurred; when she expects the move to Buncrana to be fully complete; if she expects that difficulties will arise in regard to the administration of policy in her Department arising from the fact that the office will no longer be close; and if arrangements will be made for civil servants who are local authority tenants in Dublin to obtain similar tenancies in Buncrana. [31005/03]

John Bruton

Ceist:

594 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Donegal in regard to the move of her Department staff; 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 Donegal 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 her Department staff will be maintaining a location in Dublin to provide a base for assistance to her in regard to 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 an estimate has been made of the additional travelling costs and expenses claims which will be incurred; when she expects the move to Donegal to be fully complete; if she expects that difficulties will arise in regard to the administration of policy in her Department arising from the fact that the office will no longer be close; and if arrangements will be made for civil servants who are local authority tenants in Dublin to obtain similar tenancies in Donegal. [31006/03]

John Bruton

Ceist:

595 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Carrick-on-Shannon in regard to the move of Department staff; 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 Carrick-on-Shannon 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 Department staff will be maintaining a location in Dublin to provide a base for assistance to her in regard to 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 an estimate has been made of the additional travelling costs and expenses claims which will be incurred; when she expects the move to Carrick-on-Shannon to be fully complete; if she expects that difficulties will arise in regard to the administration of policy in her Department arising from the fact that the office will no longer be close; and if arrangements will be made for civil servants who are local authority tenants in Dublin to obtain similar tenancies in Carrick-on-Shannon. [31007/03]

John Bruton

Ceist:

596 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Sligo in regard to the move of her Department staff; 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 Sligo 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 her Department staff will be maintaining a location in Dublin to provide a base for assistance to her in regard to 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 an estimate has been made of the additional travelling costs and expenses claims which will be incurred; when she expects the move to Sligo to be fully complete; if she expects that difficulties will arise in regard to the administration of policy in her Department arising from the fact that the office will no longer be close; and if arrangements will be made for civil servants who are local authority tenants in Dublin to obtain similar tenancies in Sligo. [31008/03]

John Bruton

Ceist:

597 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Monaghan in regard to the move of the Combat Poverty Agency; 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 Monaghan 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 the Combat Poverty Agency will be maintaining a location in Dublin to provide a base for assistance to her in regard to 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 an estimate has been made of the additional travelling costs and expenses claims which will be incurred; when she expects the move to Monaghan to be fully complete; if she expects that difficulties will arise in regard to the administration of policy in her Department arising from the fact that the office will no longer be close; and if arrangements will be made for civil servants who are local authority tenants in Dublin to obtain similar tenancies in Buncrana. [31009/03]

John Bruton

Ceist:

598 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number and grade of the staff to move from Dublin to Carrickmacross in regard to the move of Comhairle; 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 Carrickmacross 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 Comhairle will be maintaining a location in Dublin to provide a base for assistance to her in regard to 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 an estimate has been made of the additional travelling costs and expenses claims which will be incurred; when she expects the move to Carrickmacross to be fully complete; if she expects that difficulties will arise in regard to the administration of policy in her Department arising from the fact that the office will no longer be close; and if arrangements will be made for civil servants who are local authority tenants in Dublin to obtain similar tenancies in Carrickmacross. [31010/03]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 593 to 598, inclusive, together.

Arrangements are being put in place in my Department to implement the decentralisation programme for my Department and the agencies under its aegis, as announced in the budget. Details of the budget, timetable and designation of the functions to transfer to each location have not yet been worked out. The provision of premises in the locations and the disposal of premises in Dublin is a matter for the Office of Public Works. Local authority tenants who volunteer to transfer to the decentralised location will have to make appropriate arrangements with regard to their housing needs. My Department will report on a regular basis to the central implementation committee which is being set up and which will report, in turn, to the special Cabinet sub-committee to oversee the programme across the Civil Service.
Regarding the consultation process, the decentralisation programme was a key commitment in the programme for Government. Consultation with staff interests will take place in my Department and in the agencies in respect of implementation issues. Any public service-wide issues will be addressed under the auspices of the public service monitoring group provided for in Sustaining Progress. My Department has wide experience of the issues associated with decentralisation, having previously relocated functions and staff from Dublin to Sligo, Letterkenny, Longford, Waterford and Dundalk. This programme of decentralisation will involve major change for my Department. A key objective will be to ensure that it is implemented in a planned way, with due regard to the effects on staff and the need to maintain high standards of policy making and service delivery. I am satisfied that the administration of policy will not be adversely affected by the decentralisation programme.
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