Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together.

There are no proposals to decentralise any section of my Department or any of the bodies or agencies operating under its aegis. A significant part of the Central Statistics Office is located in Cork. A total of 42 staff from my Department have applied through the central applications facility to relocate under the decentralisation programme. The breakdown by grade is assistant principal, six; administrative officer, nine; higher executive officer, four; executive officer, 11; staff officer, three; and clerical officer, nine.

See this speech in context