Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I do not think it will have an adverse effect on Departments. The main criteria used to select Departments and agencies for decentralisation, which were obviously used when examining the case of my Department, were set out in the budget last year. The underlying principle of the programme was the continuity of effective public service delivery, and this was one of the factors taken into account both in the selection of Departments for decentralisation and the location of those which would not be decentralised. That covered my Department. It was decided not to transfer any sections of the Department of the Taoiseach out of Dublin taking into account the core business of the Department, the relatively small number of staff and the need to ensure that any sections being transferred would be of sufficient size to constitute viable working units. I am sure that in considering the optimum location for my Department, which is one of the smaller Departments, the Minister for Finance took into account how the Department could best support me in performing my constitutional duties as Head of Government.

Although 20% of people at all levels, a significant number, have opted to list their names in the central applications facility process, I do not believe this creates a difficulty for the Department. Obviously all the criteria and issues of staffing, training and movement have been covered in the recent report of the implementation group. My views have also been taken into account by the group.

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