Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 12: To ask the Taoiseach the number of staff in his Department, broken down by grade, who have applied to the central applications facility for transfer to locations outside of Dublin under the Government's decentralisation proposals; the likely impact of these transfers on his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24377/05]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 13: To ask the Taoiseach the number of officials from his Department who have applied to relocate under the Government's decentralisation proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25201/05]

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 14: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the implementation of the decentralisation programme as it affects his Department. [25345/05]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 15: To ask the Taoiseach the number of employees of his Department who have applied to relocate under the decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27692/05]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 16: To ask the Taoiseach the number of officials at his Department who have applied for relocation under the Government's decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28679/05]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 16, inclusive, together.

There are no proposals to decentralise any section of my Department or any of the bodies or agencies operating under its aegis.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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It is ridiculous to take these questions if there will not be time for any supplementary questions. We are dealing with a major impact on the whole country.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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It is the issue of decentralisation.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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We still have enough time.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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We are only dealing with the Department of the Taoiseach. We will hear the Taoiseach's reply.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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We will not have time, even for the Taoiseach's Department.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since I am not going anywhere, it is very easy, is it not?

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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He said it.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is taking up time now.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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A significant part of the Central Statistics Office is already located in Cork. Some 48 staff from my Department have applied through the central applications facility to relocate under the decentralisation programme. The breakdown by grade is: assistant principal, seven; higher executive officer, five; administrative officer, ten; executive officer, 12; staff officer, three; and clerical officer, 11.

Arrangements are in place to ensure the decentralisation of these staff does not impact negatively on the quality of the services provided by the Department. These arrangements include the phased redeployment of some of the remaining staff to the areas of the Department most affected by decentralisation and the provision of training and job profiles/work manuals to new staff, as appropriate.

The fact that nearly 20% of the staff of the Department have opted to relocate outside Dublin shows the underlying decision to initiate a comprehensive decentralisation programme was correct.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Based on the experience of the Taoiseach's Department, will the cost of retraining people to replace those who have been decentralised be a significant factor throughout the Civil Service?

Is anyone within the Government examining the price being paid for land——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a matter for the Minister for Finance and does not arise out of this question.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I am not sure about that. It applies across all Departments, including the Department of the Taoiseach. The cost seems to be prohibitive. Some of the replies to parliamentary questions we have tabled suggest that as much as €430,000 an acre is being paid for land in urban centres. Is there a concern within Government about this?

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That does not arise out of this question.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach is the Head of the Government. His Department——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I accept that but the questions are quite specific. Standing Order 33 is quite specific. The Taoiseach is responsible in his question time for his Department and not all other Departments.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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His Department is minimally involved and therefore I am entitled to ask whether anybody is looking at the prohibitive prices being paid for land to accommodate the decentralisation programme.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of Public Works is engaged in all the departmental moves, and controls the entire programme of costs, whether for land or buildings. Whenever the State is involved in such transactions people try to increase the costs but the Office of Public Works, under the Department of Finance, is in control.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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The Taoiseach told us in February that 45 members of his staff had applied through the central applications facility to relocate, that is 20% of his Department. Is there any increase in that figure? There are 10,000 posts to be decentralised but only 1,800 staff have agreed to move outside the greater Dublin area.

Is a cost factor being put in place for interaction between, for example, the Taoiseach's Department and other Departments, if this decentralisation plan ever comes about? Will there not be a great additional cost for interaction between the Taoiseach's Department and others around the country? The staff at Teagasc in Carlow, for example, are to receive €15,000 each for commuting.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should submit a question to the Minister for Agriculture and Food about Teagasc.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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If one multiplies that it indicates the scale of costs involved.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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In my Department, 20% of staff, a total of 48 out of 220 people, have applied to move. That is in line with a very high figure elsewhere. While 2004 was the closing date for applications to the central applications facility, anyone who wants to get onto that list can do so because that was the closing date for priority applications. Several members of the staff have expressed an interest since 2004 and that trend will continue. The numbers across the Departments are increasing all the time.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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In one of his first reports the new chairman of the decentralisation implementation group, Mr. Finbar Flood, indicated there were continuing difficulties — he used the words, "little progress"— in the union management talks on facilitating the programme. How does this stand and how does it impact on the Taoiseach's Department? More people seek to remain in Dublin than there are jobs designated to remain here.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a question for the Minister for Finance.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I am asking about the Taoiseach's Department because Mr. Flood indicated in his report that 6,000 new jobs would have to be found for public and civil servants in Dublin. Is that reflected in the Taoiseach's Department? What can the Taoiseach tell us about his Department's position?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The problem in my Department is that I am not moving but 20% of my staff want to move so it is a different situation.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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They want to get out.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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They want to go to the country. They want to go to Monaghan.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Does the Taoiseach want to go to the country?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I like visiting the country every time I get a chance to do so.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Does the Taoiseach want to go to Monaghan?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I was in Monaghan two weeks ago. I cannot go back again for a while.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach was lucky he did not get sick there.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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There is an excellent hospital there.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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How would the Taoiseach know that? He has not visited the hospital.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are hardworking people there. As far as we are concerned people will move. In my Department, and every other Department, there are negotiations with trade unions to organise this programme. This has happened previously and is in process again.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Kenny.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The time is too short.