Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

A Senator referred to the fact that an alternative site had been suggested to the Curragh as the location for the Defence Forces headquarters. I am happy to inform the House that the State owns the land in the Curragh where the Defence Forces headquarters will be situated. Likewise, the Department of Education and Science site in Athlone is State-owned. The OPW expects to have in excess of 20 properties under negotiation by the end of July 2004, with the remainder to quickly follow. The implementation group recommended a public private partnership approach to the procurement of office accommodation be adopted and that design, build, maintain and finance be the preferred procurement mechanism.

Since the first announcement of the programme, there has been ongoing engagement between Civil Service management and trade unions within the framework of the Civil Service conciliation and arbitration scheme. Discussions have also been ongoing, under the auspices of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, and with unions representing staff in the various State agencies.

Management has put forward a number of proposals and progress is being made. The ICTU trade unions representing public servants in decentralising agencies are meeting with the official side this afternoon. It is also recognised that many issues require ongoing discussions and much of this will have to take place locally between management and staff in the individual agencies concerned.

Six months have elapsed since the Minister for Finance's announcement on budget day. Any reasonable observer would conclude that significant progress has been made during that time in the implementation phase of decentralisation. Public servants who wish to decentralise are in the process of making their applications. Most of the organisations participating in the programme have drawn up implementation plans and submitted them to the Flynn group. The OPW is continuing to seek and identify suitable locations for the decentralised offices. However, a significant task remains to be achieved. This programme is proceeding satisfactorily and Senators can rest assured it will be achieved.