Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 84 and 139 together. The programme for government states that the Government will continue to move ahead with decentralisation and ensure that no public servant is obliged to accept decentralisation against his or her wishes and that promotion opportunities remain available.

I have no plans to review the programme and I am confident the public service will deliver this programme in a considered, sensible and sensitive manner. My colleague, the Minister for Transport, has advised the Government of some administrative changes to the programme in relation to functions under his aegis. These changes will not impact on the overall number of posts for any location.

The October report from the Decentralisation Implementation Group, DIG, which can be accessed at http://www.decentralisation.gov.ie, provides the OPW time frames for the expected completion of permanent accommodation at that time. The DIG is currently updating the position on property with the OPW and early indications are that there are now likely to be some shifts in the completion dates for permanent accommodation caused by property selection and acquisition issues, brief and design issues, tendering periods, planning issues and contractual arrangements.

Examination of the position in regard to progressing the relocation of the State Agencies is under way and I expect a report on this matter later in the summer. I understand there will also be an update on the time frames for the programme generally at that time.

I confirm that the Government has recently asked the implementation group of Secretaries General to deal with the governmental and cross-departmental issues arising from decentralisation of the headquarters of Departments and the need to provide facilities for Ministers, Ministers of State and officials while in Dublin on business. A sub-group of the implementation group has been established to progress these issues.

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