Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

As has been stated, we should call this dispersal policy rather than decentralisation policy in terms of its effect. How would the Taoiseach ask a civil servant from his Department to volunteer to move? Essentially it is something of a Hobson's choice. Would he ask if such a civil servant would be disappointed not to be working in Dublin in the future? Is there any particular way to ask a person to volunteer when it is very clear, for example, to principal officers that it is not in the best interest of their careers. It seems that the number of volunteers would only fill 38% of the vacancies available. Based on his Department, will the Taoiseach give the lead as to how this might be more successfully done? Does the Taoiseach realise that difficulties exist? He seems to indicate that everything is going swimmingly. However, the reports we have seen show huge difficulties and the deadline of 2007 will not be met.

The Taoiseach mentioned the sites and the building programme for the new offices. Based on replies to previous questions, I know the Taoiseach is not a huge fan of public private partnership. He certainly said the Department of Finance was not a huge fan of such arrangements. However, the construction on 53 new sites at a cost of €800 million may relate to his Department, which is why I ask the question. Does this represent good value given that much of that building——

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