Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together.

A total of 39 staff currently serving in my Department have applied through the central applications facility to relocate under the decentralisation programme. The breakdown by grade is: assistant principal, seven; higher executive officer, three; administrative officer, seven; executive officer, nine; staff officer, two; and clerical officer, 11. Ten former members of staff have already been assigned to decentralised posts.

Arrangements are in place to ensure the decentralisation of staff does not have a negative impact on the quality of the services provided by the Department. These arrangements include the phased redeployment of some of the remaining staff to the areas of the Department most affected by decentralisation, as well as the provision of training and job profiles and work manuals to new staff as appropriate.

The fact that 18% of the staff of my Department have opted to relocate outside of Dublin shows that the underlying decision to initiate a comprehensive decentralisation programme was correct.

Deputies will be aware there are no proposals to decentralise my Department or any of the bodies under its aegis.

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