Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:1351 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress to date on the decentralisation programme for Drogheda, County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22548/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 29 September 2004
Ceisteanna (1169)
Freagraí scríofa
The transfer of my Department's headquarters from Dublin to Drogheda was announced as part of the Government's decentralisation programme last December. In July 2004, this location was also selected as the base for my Department's IT division.
I have also decided that Comhairle, which it was intended to locate to Carrickmacross, will also be located to Drogheda with the requirement for Carrickmacross being met by departmental staff.
There are in total six locations to which my Department will be relocating under the programme. A preliminary implementation plan setting out, inter alia, the staff breakdown for each location was submitted to the decentralisation implementation group. The plan will now be reviewed in the light of the recent results from the central applications facility.
My Department is also in regular contact with the Office of Public Works, OPW, which will be responsible for securing suitable accommodation for all my Department's decentralised locations, including Drogheda.