398 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of staff who have transferred to his Department under the decentralisation CAF or DCAF schemes and who have found that they must make a further move to another section within six months of their Departmental transfer; the effect such moves have on staff morale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13109/07]

Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs will decentralise to Limerick. This is scheduled to take place during the second half of 2007 and will involve the relocation to Limerick of 124 posts. Overall, personnel have at present either been assigned to, or identified for, some 92 posts or approximately 74% of the 124 posts scheduled to be decentralised.

At present, 57 posts in the Directorate are filled by officers who have signalled their intention to decentralise to Limerick. Forty-four of these officers accepted offers to decentralise following their application through the Central Applications Facility (CAF), of whom 32 transferred from other Departments. All 32 have remained in the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department.

One officer transferred to the Department under the Dublin CAF (DCAF) arrangements to fill an existing vacancy. This officer continues to work in the Passport Office to which she was assigned on transfer to my Department.