Executive Summary

Since the decentralisation programme was announced by the Government the Equality Tribunal has made excellent progress in making the move a reality for its staff and for Portarlington.

The location of office accommodation which the Office of Public Works has secured for the Tribunal and three other agencies who are moving to Portarlington and on which the Tribunal's Portarlington offices are to be located is a prime location alongside Portarlington train station. Construction on the site is expected to commence in Quarter 1, 2008 and is expected to take approximately 18 - 24 months to complete.

The Tribunal already has 12 Portarlington - bound staff in place within the Tribunal, and a further 30 Portarlington - bound staff yet to be assigned to the Tribunal. In order to facilitate staff who wish to move earlier than the projected permanent building completion date will allow, the Tribunal is progressing the option of an advance move to an interim office situated in Portlaoise. The OPW has indicated that work on this option is progressing well and subject to the availability of suitable accommodation, could allow for the movement of approximately 14 decentralising staff to Portlaoise during the first half of 2008.

This Implementation Plan will be further revised to take account of reviews of business processes and opportunities for business change identified by decentralising areas during the course of the coming year.