Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

The Taoiseach told us in February that 45 members of his staff had applied through the central applications facility to relocate, that is 20% of his Department. Is there any increase in that figure? There are 10,000 posts to be decentralised but only 1,800 staff have agreed to move outside the greater Dublin area.

Is a cost factor being put in place for interaction between, for example, the Taoiseach's Department and other Departments, if this decentralisation plan ever comes about? Will there not be a great additional cost for interaction between the Taoiseach's Department and others around the country? The staff at Teagasc in Carlow, for example, are to receive €15,000 each for commuting.

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