Decentralisation Programme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2004

Wednesday, 18 February 2004

Ceisteanna (45)

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

113 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if in regard to proposals for decentralisation any survey has been undertaken to establish the number of persons employed in his Department in boards or agencies operating under the aegis of his Department who are willing to move to the new locations announced by the Minister for Finance in his December 2003 budget speech; the results of such survey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4928/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The Deputy will be aware that it is proposed to decentralise the headquarters of my Department to Portlaoise and the local office located at present in Cork city to Macroom. A preliminary survey conducted in my Department indicates that currently some 43 staff in Dublin would be interested in moving to Portlaoise. Another 57 staff located outside of Dublin indicated that they would move to Portlaoise. My Department already has 246 staff located in Portlaoise.

A survey of staff in respect of the Macroom office indicates that 42 staff would move from their present locations in Cork to Macroom. A further 22 staff located in other parts of the country would also decentralise to Macroom. An Bord Bia has also carried out a survey which indicated that 14 serving permanent staff would decentralise to Enniscorthy.