Decentralisation Programme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 June 2004

Thursday, 3 June 2004

Ceisteanna (151)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

147 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport his plans for the relocation of 200 staff from Bus Éireann’s head office, Broadstone, to Mitchelstown, County Cork even though there are only 80 staff there at present; if he will state which additional staff he proposes to relocate; if he will explain the rationale behind selecting Mitchelstown and the way he intends to proceed when only two staff have opted to decentralise; the reason it is the only commercial semi-State company where relocation applies. [17057/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 209 answered on 4 May. Discussions with Bus Éireann are continuing and the chairman is examining options for meeting the overall target of 200 staff transfers. The company has prepared an initial decentralisation implementation plan for the move to Mitchelstown. The plan will be kept under review and further developed as the programme progresses and additional information becomes available.

Factors taken into account in selecting agencies and locations were outlined in the Minister for Finance's Budget Statement in December 2003. The Irish Aviation Authority is a commercial semi-State company and it is also included in the decentralisation programme.