Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

——implementation group, about which the Deputy has spoken fondly, said in 2005 that the ambitious nature of this programme, which will be implemented on a phased basis, means that it will require time. The Opposition continues to ignore the point, which was accepted by the Government, that it will require time. Some 1,500 civil servants — 20% of the Civil Service part of the programme — are already in new positions and are ready to move to new locations. The specific issues which have been raised in respect of State agencies will be difficult to resolve because there is no tradition of transfer between such agencies, which makes this programme different from past programmes of decentralisation. That does not detract from the work that is being done, such as the identification of locations and the acquisition of properties. As we speak, more and more people are applying to participate in the decentralisation programme. The skills mix will also have to be dealt with.

As I have said previously, in response to the suggestion that there will be a loss of corporate knowledge if large numbers of public servants are located in the countryside, we should look at what happened when a section of the Revenue Commissioners was relocated to Limerick. Just 25% of those who were working in the Collector-General's office moved to Limerick, but the relocation was used as a means of introducing new work practices, more efficiency and more effectiveness, which was one of the terms of reference of the decentralisation implementation group in this instance.

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