I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, for coming to the House to speak about decentralisation. I congratulate him on the progress he is making and the songs of doom that one hears are not true. Considerable progress is being made. Difficulties occur sometimes but these are not the makings of the Office of Public Works. I am looking for precise details about decentralisation plans for Athlone and Longford and I know that the Minister of State will give them to me.
Decentralisation Programme.
Arising from the Government's decentralisation programme, the Office of Public Works has the task of sourcing suitable property solutions throughout the country to meet the requirements of decentralising Departments and agencies. The OPW has made good progress in this respect. To date it has completed, or significantly advanced, property acquisition negotiations in 35 of more than 50 locations targeted under the programme. Sites for the balance of the decentralisation locations are also being actively pursued.
The decentralisation programme envisages that the headquarters of the Department of Education and Science would be relocated to Mullingar in County Westmeath. The total number of posts to be decentralised to Mullingar is 299, and 234 applications have been received. These numbers will provide a significant and welcome economic boost to the town.
A number of property options were considered but these were ruled out for one reason or another. The most recent preferred option of the Office of Public Works was to locate the new headquarters building adjacent to the proposed new town centre development in the Blackhall area of the town. However, this development was recently rejected by An Bord Pleanála and, consequently, the option is no longer available. The Office of Public Works subsequently identified an alternative site which has been accepted as suitable by the Department. Negotiations on the terms and conditions have commenced with the owners. Subject to satisfactory terms being agreed and a satisfactory outcome to technical assessments and so on, the Office of Public Works hopes to finalise the negotiations soon.
In its latest report, the decentralisation implementation group has set out indicative timeframes for the completion of the construction of decentralised offices in selected locations, which include Mullingar. The indicative timeframe for construction completion in Mullingar is early 2009. Expressions of interest for this project, which is part of a public private partnership bundle that also includes buildings for the Department of Agriculture and Food in Portlaoise and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Carlow, have been received from developers and contractors and are being evaluated by the OPW in conjunction with the National Development Finance Agency. It is expected that this evaluation process will be completed soon when tenders are invited to procure the buildings on a basis of design, build, finance and maintain.
The Office of Public Works is arranging for the provision of office accommodation for the Department of Education and Science at Lissywollen in Athlone, County Westmeath. It is proposed to accommodate approximately 100 local staff housed on the same site in temporary accommodation as well as 108 staff decentralised from Dublin. A total of 155 applications to decentralise have been received.
That is very good.
It is a very popular place. A preferred tenderer has been selected and is in discussions with Westmeath County Council on matters relating to the planning permission which has been granted for the development. In tandem with this, the design team of the preferred tenderer is preparing contract documentation consisting of working drawings, a bill of quantities and so on. It is envisaged that these matters will shortly be finalised and that a contract for construction will be placed soon afterwards. The Office of Public Works anticipates completion of the new building for the Department in the second quarter of 2008.
It is also intended to decentralise the Higher Education Authority to Athlone. The number of posts involved is 53 and 26 applications have been received. The decentralisation implementation group has not yet identified a specific timeframe for this move.
Senator Bannon will be very interested to hear about the plans for Longford.
It is my motion. Senator Bannon did not do anything.
I do not take my eye off the ball and the Minister of State knows that.
The Irish Prison Service was among the organisations recommended for the first phase of moves by the decentralisation implementation group in its November 2004 report. The total number of posts involved is 158 and 209 applications have been received.
It is all very positive news.
It gets better. Construction of the new headquarters in Longford is well advanced and the Office of Public Works expects completion by May 2007.
Excellent. That should suit Deputy Sexton very well.
The staff will be ready to move in by——
There will be no decentralisation to Mullingar until 2009. The Government has let down Mullingar.
It is important to remember that the timescales given are indicative, reflecting the fact that in procuring new buildings, unforeseen circumstances can arise that could impact on progress at different stages of the various projects, including planning, legal, technical, and contract negotiation issues. However, the Office of Public Works will strive to ensure that all projects are delivered within the indicative timeframes setout by the decentralisation implementation group.