In 1976, approximately 50 staff in the accounts branch of the then named forest and wildlife service were decentralised to Castlebar, County Mayo. As a result of departmental reconfiguration over time and, in particular, the establishment of the State forestry agency, Coillte, the accounts branch of my Department based in Castlebar today consists of 18 staff.
Given the number of years that have elapsed and the extent of reconfiguration of departmental boundaries since this decentralisation, my Department is not in a position to source the specific information requested by the Deputy in relation to the Castlebar decentralisation.
In addition, approximately 100 of my Department's staff are situated at almost 20 regional locations outside Dublin. This number includes my Department's accounts branch, Irish coast guard staff, sea fishery officers, marine surveyors, engineering staff and administrative support staff. Typically these staff were engaged on the basis of employment at specified locations outside Dublin.