Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Labour Court struck down the proposed unfair method of moving ahead with the decentralisation of State agencies that linked relocation with promotional prospects. SIPTU, which represents 1,600 State agency employees, has called repeatedly on Government to abandon the proposed relocation of State agencies. It has been said time and again that this is intended to be a voluntary process. Does the Taoiseach accept that a very different situation applies to State agencies than to civil servants in Departments in which there is a degree of interchangeability? Given the specific roles, responsibilities and expertise that State agencies require, there is not the same level of interchangeability.

The last time the Taoiseach answered questions on this was last October as Minister for Finance. He indicated to the House at that time that there was ongoing consideration and engagement and that a solution would and must be found. On the basis of that commitment last October, what progress has been made eight months later in addressing this issue that continues to present itself and does not appear to be making much headway? Can the Taoiseach give us some sense as to whether progress is being made in seeking a solution to this matter? Where stands the Taoiseach now in relation to the proposals on the relocation of State agencies?

I noted Deputy Kenny's reference to the FÁS IT unit located in Birr, in the Taoiseach's consistency, and in Dublin. This issue was raised last Thursday at the annual conference of the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants in Croke Park in Dublin. The information that has been cited appears to be the case, that in the absence of broadband, thereby not having the wherewithal to establish video-conferencing through information technology, people are obliged to travel to regular meetings and engagements and this results in added cost and places inconvenience on people who heretofore have worked on the same site.

A number of solutions could be brought about to address this problem, not least of which is the universal roll-out of broadband access. As these matters were addressed at the annual conference of the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants last Thursday, has the Taoiseach taken on board the criticisms it highlighted of the outworking of relocations that have already taken place? What actions does he and his Department propose to take?

I wish to follow on from what Deputy Gilmore said. I do not think that Opposition Members want to make these points repeatedly but we are looking towards the tenth anniversary of Mr. McCreevy's announcement of an intended decentralisation of 10,000 civil servants and State agency workers. Under the Taoiseach's new stewardship, is it not well past time to spell out a new realistic set of goals for that decentralisation plan so that we can put to bed much of the uncertainties that were created by Mr. McCreevy's assertion in his budget day speech a number of years ago?

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