Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the great IT skills of the staff at the Department of Social and Family Affairs; his views of whether his decentralisation plan will uproot families from Dublin and cause major frustration and anguish; and if he will penalise staff who cannot move for family and personal reasons. [12499/04]

Charlie McCreevy (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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As I stated in my budget statement last December, the Government recognises that Departments' IT systems are crucial for service delivery. I have made clear on many occasions that the decentralisation programme will operate on a voluntary basis. Civil and public servants who do not wish to transfer to a decentralised location will be assigned to alternative public service posts in Dublin. The exact procedures which will apply in such cases will be dealt with as part of the implementation process and are being discussed with the public service unions.