Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The last time the Taoiseach answered questions in the House on the Government's decentralisation programme he advised that 32 applicants in his Department sought to relocate under this programme. How many of these have been accommodated? Given the freeze on the decentralisation proposals in budget 2009, what number have not and will not be accommodated? Can the Taoiseach confirm there are applications in his Department that are on hold? In the Department of Finance listing of the status of the various decentralisation projects, the identified towns and the Departments designated for them, we note that a number of them are referred to as "advance party in place". That applies in the case of Cavan town, which is in my constituency. The Department's listing says that permanent accommodation in the town is "not currently affordable" and that the matter will be reviewed in 2011. What does an "advance party" consist of?

See this speech in context