Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

We recognise also that there is a need to address the concerns of people remaining in Dublin.

The Deputy refers to the low take-up rate of staff in FÁS. The data to date indicate that the number of internal applicants is low. However, the Deputy may also be aware that some unions represented in State agencies have effectively opposed the central applications process. This has resulted in a lack of co-operation in the collection of data on the real levels of interest in the decentralisation in those agencies.

I will take the opportunity to update the Deputy generally on progress with the programme. He claims to agree with it. I was a Member of the House when a decentralisation programme was cancelled by a Fine Gael-Labour Government, subsequently resumed by a Fianna Fáil Administration and successfully implemented. Significant progress continues to be made in the implementation of the decentralisation programme. More than 10,600 civil and public servants have made applications through the central applications facility to relocate. The central applications facility continues to receive new applications every week. It is anticipated that interest will increase further as building and timetables firm up.

On the property side, for which the Minister for State has responsibility, site or building acquisition negotiations have been completed in 17 locations. Contracts have been received for an additional six locations. Suitable sites have been identified in a further 15 locations and negotiations to acquire have either commenced or are close to commencement in these locations.

Agreement has been reached on a number of human resource and industrial relations issues in the Civil Service which has enabled progress on the transfer of staff and promotions. Discussions are ongoing in other areas. Actual movement of staff within and between Departments and offices is now under way, with almost 1,400 staff already assigned to posts which will decentralise. All decentralising organisations have produced implementation plans setting out the detailed arrangements they are putting in place to plan for relocation while also ensuring business continuity.

Thirty State agencies are due to decentralise under the most ambitious programme instigated by the State. I am satisfied that good progress has been made in planning for the relocation of these agencies.

The decentralisation implementation group has identified seven agencies, where issues such as the location, mix of staff, business and size of the organisation were favourable, as early movers. In general it has recommended that a more individualised approach be taken to this element of the programme.

I recognise that progress in human resource issues has not been as rapid in the State agencies as in the Civil Service. The Civil Service has had the opportunity to develop an understanding of the decentralisation process over the years from previous and very successful programmes. The experience gained by Civil Service bodies is important in ensuring that the State agency programme can be carried through.

The decentralisation implementation group recognised that proposals for inter-organisational mobility are a new development for State agencies, but it indicated that it is precisely this type of ground-breaking initiative which is needed to give impetus to the implementation of the programme. The process is facilitated by the engagement, through discussion and dialogue, of staff interests. I am happy that issues in dispute in FÁS can be addressed and that its decentralisation programme can remain on track.

Deputy Costello has made certain assertions which have no foundation in truth or fact. They remain assertions. Based on what I have said, I am sure he will take due consideration of the assertions and perhaps retract some of the more outrageous allegations.

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