Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I said on a previous occasion that 45 officials in my Department had applied for decentralisation — that figure has since increased to 49. Ten members of staff have moved on and the others are in the system. The restructuring process under the central applications facility is ongoing. I assure the Deputy that civil servants are not worried about the election because they will still be there on the other side of it, regardless of who else is there. The movement of staff within and between Departments and offices is taking place at a steady pace. Approximately 2,300 officials have been assigned to posts which will be decentralised. That represents approximately 30% of the total number of jobs to be relocated. It is moving progressively. It will not be as quick as we intended it to be. It will be like the programme in the 1990s, when approximately 4,500 people were decentralised more slowly than was anticipated. It is moving. I understand that contracts are being agreed for the 39 buildings and structures which are to be built at the various locations. As people notice what is happening, such as the completion of the physical infrastructure, they will be more inclined to join the panel. It is certainly moving. Hardly a week or month goes by without somebody moving, as one can tell by the extent of staff movement in one's own Department.

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