I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 388 together.
The initial decision to relocate some 260 posts of my Department to Sligo was taken by the Government in April 1987. In November 1987, the Government decided to increase the number of posts to be decentralised to Sligo to 300. This decision also expanded the proposed programme of decentralisation to include the transfer of some 190 posts of my Department to Letterkenny. In preparation for the relocation of areas of the Department to Sligo, a canvas of the staff serving in my Department took place in January 1988 to ascertain the level of interest in relocation to Sligo. Subsequently, in May 1988, civil servants from other Government Departments were invited to apply for transfer. The relocation of staff to Sligo was achieved in three phases commencing in July 1989 and finishing in November 1989. The final number of posts transferred was 319.
With regard to the decentralisation of areas of the Department to Letterkenny, a canvas of staff serving in my Department took place in November 1989 to ascertain the level of interest in transfer. In May 1990, civil servants from other Government Departments were invited to apply for lateral transfer to Letterkenny. The relocation of staff to Letterkenny was achieved in two phases, commencing in November 1990 and finishing in March 1991, with a final total of 176 posts transferring.