Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As the Deputy will be aware, 30 State agencies are due to relocate under the Government's decentralisation programme. Some 2,340 posts are involved, or just over one fifth of the programme.

The decentralisation implementation group, DIG, did not set a specific timeframe for State agencies as it believed that it was the responsibility of the board and senior management of each agency to implement the Government decision and to report to its parent Department in the first instance on the progress being made. The DIG noted in its latest report that while progress had been made by some State agencies, there was a marked lack of action among others. The group is meeting CEOs from a number of State agencies to get an overview of progress to date and to identify the challenges remaining in implementing Government policy.

The main issues facing the State agencies are those relating to the filling of posts in undersubscribed locations, the placing of staff choosing to remain in Dublin and promotion arrangements. These issues are further complicated by the absence of any tradition of or agreement on interchangeability between public service organisations, and between the public service and the Civil Service. The decentralisation implementation group is of the view that the resolution of the outstanding issues is central to the overall implementation process in the State agencies. The group has asked my Department to pursue directly with ICTU proposals on getting central discussions under way on the full range of industrial relations issues relating to the decentralisation of State agencies.

An approach based on consensus and agreement has enabled significant progress to be made as regards the Civil Service moves and it is the intention to continue with this policy in the State agency sector.

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