Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

When all aspects are taken into account the implementation group's financial model indicates how it works out. In respect of the Deputy's one in six figure, 138 posts are due to relocate to my town, Tullamore, and 57 of those people have indicated they want to decentralise there from the relevant Department. That is not one in six. A further 33 have accepted offers of posts in Tullamore and arrangements are being made for them to transfer to the Department of Finance in the next few months.

I am aware from media reports of the Deputy's claim regarding IMPACT but not of the assumptions underpinning the claim that it would cost €65 million a year to retain specialist staff who do not wish to relocate under the decentralisation programme. Therefore I cannot comment on that or the Deputy's claim.

Duplication of staff in Dublin and the new locations is not planned. The Government has always recognised that in addition to the personnel who have applied to decentralise there is another group of equally dedicated civil and public servants who, for a range of personal or other reasons, are not in a position to relocate from Dublin. At the time of the announcement of the programme the Government made it clear that all those wishing to remain in Dublin would be offered alternative public service jobs. Arrangements will be put in place to allow staff whose jobs are being decentralised and who opt not to move out of Dublin to be assigned to other jobs in the city. That is being discussed with the trade unions concerned.

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