Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I cannot say. I have not received that detail from the central applications facility. It is obvious that they are continuing to indicate an interest in relocating. The decentralisation implementation group will be in touch with them in due course, depending on whether a suitable post arises.

Advance parties are groups or complements of workers who go to locations where alternative accommodation has been provided, pending the commencement of the full decentralisation that is envisaged at such locations. Such parties are working well. In some cases, further members of staff can be relocated to the interim rented accommodation, if they so wish and if there is sufficient capacity there, as part of the advance party at that location, pending the finalisation of accommodation and other arrangements. As I have said, some advance parties are in locations where building work is proceeding. In some such cases, permanent accommodation will be provided during the current phase of the programme. In other cases, such as cases in which arrangements are not currently in train, there will be a deferral until 2011. People are continuing to work in such locations because they suit them better than their previous locations.

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