Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Sorry, it is not a notion. A total of 6,000 people will be relocated by 2011. A total of 3,400 are already in the process of being decentralised. They will be going voluntarily and in line with trade union agreements and in line with the strategic plans of Departments. I often hear people complaining about decentralisation but I have yet to hear anyone in the House saying the level of service in a decentralised office is less than what it was before. People in these areas will tell one that the relocations have been beneficial in a whole range of ways and not just to the benefit of employees and I am glad to hear this. It provides an improved working environment for public servants and also improves productivity, because decentralisation brings with it up to date fit-out and computerisation and information systems which makes for a better position than the incremental acquisition of IT, as was the case in the past.

See this speech in context