The Office of Public Works, OPW, deals with matters relating to the acquisition of sites and the procurement of property for decentralisation. The latest report from OPW indicated that negotiations on the purchase of a suitable site in Cavan are nearing conclusion. My Department has already provided an outline specification of our accommodation requirements to OPW and will provide a detailed brief as required by OPW.
The latest information from the Public Appointments Service is that 171 expressions of interest have been received for 378 Department posts in Cavan. The process of reassigning Department staff that made a CAF application to relocate with the Department to each of the decentralised locations is under way.
In line with the centrally agreed protocols, contact has been made by my Department with relevant Departments in relation to their staff who wish to move with the Department to these decentralised locations. In addition, a number of staff have been recruited recently and have signed up to decentralise to Cavan.