Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

As soon as the House rises and we have time to get around the country to unveil the sites, we will do so. I wish to make it very clear that the scare stories do not exist in the way that the Senator said and that we have bought sites. Next week we intend to unveil signs in Newcastle West, Killarney, Clonakilty, Athlone, Longford, Knock, Tullamore and Portlaoise, with further sites following immediately thereafter. That will give rise to public confidence that decentralisation is progressing and going ahead.

I am delighted to attend this evening to address Senators once again on the Government's decentralisation programme. I reiterate that the Government is firmly committed to the full implementation of the decentralisation programme and is very pleased with the progress which has been achieved over the past 18 months. The headquarters of the Department of Education and Science is decentralising to Mullingar, with a total of 298 posts. During the priority period for applications up to 7 September 2004, 247 applications were received for Mullingar through the central applications facility, which is now widely known as the CAF. Some 68 of those applications are from existing staff of the Department. In addition, 11 new entrants have accepted formal offers to transfer to Mullingar.

In addition to the transfer of its headquarters to Mullingar, 103 posts in the Department of Education and Science will transfer to Athlone, where there is already a large section of the Department, as the Senator stated. A total of 87 people applied through the CAF during the priority period for applications. Of those, 22 are already employed by the Department of Education. In addition, 12 new entrants have accepted formal offers to transfer to Athlone.

The Department of Education and Science has completed a second and deeper iteration of its implementation plan, which has been submitted to the decentralisation implementation group. The Higher Education Authority will also decentralise to Athlone, with 54 posts. There were 23 applications for posts in the decentralised organisation during the priority period for applications. I understand that no formal offers have yet been made to staff.

As the Senators know, responsibility for the decentralisation of the Department of Education and Science to both Mullingar and Athlone, and of the Higher Education Authority to Athlone, lies with my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin. The Irish Prison Service will decentralise to Longford, with 160 staff. A total of 150 people applied through the CAF for Longford during the priority period for applications. Formal offers have been made and accepted by 26 staff who have undertaken to transfer to Longford. In addition, one new entrant accepted a formal offer to transfer to Longford. The Irish Prison Service has prepared an updated implementation plan, which has been received by the decentralisation implementation group. I reiterate that the implementation of the decentralisation programme where the Irish Prison Service is concerned lies with the relevant Minister, who in this case is the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell.

When the last report of the decentralisation implementation group was published in November 2004, indicative dates were provided in respect of each location. I understand that a further progress report will be presented to the Minister for Finance shortly which will provide an update on all the property, people and business issues. Decentralisation and the movement of State employment from Dublin will help provide for the economic and social development of the midland region, which has not benefited as much as Dublin from the recent economic success. The Government's hope is that the decentralisation programme will serve as a catalyst for further economic benefit in provincial Ireland. The public servants who opt for decentralisation will also experience quality-of-life gains as they return to family and friends, and lower commuting times between home and work.