Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 February 2008
36 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position of the decentralisation of his departmental offices; the cost to date of such decentralisation; the cost of a transfer of his Department on a temporary basis or the cost of leasing buildings and so on to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5579/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date, 79 of the 140 staff of my Department originally due to relocate to Co. Mayo have transferred to an interim location in Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo, pending the acquisition of a site and the building of a new headquarters at Charlestown, Co. Mayo. It is planned to increase the number at the interim location to just over 100 from March 2008. The Department has already fulfilled its commitment to relocate 10 officers to Na Forbacha, Galway.
Non-property costs incurred by my Department to end-July 2007 amounted to €817,467. The Office of Public Works has also incurred costs of about €650,000 in relation to accommodation for my Department's decentralisation programme.
