Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Finance the buildings sold by the Office of Public Works to date to finance decentralisation; the location of same; and the total raised in each case. [26805/04]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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The following table shows details of the properties disposed of by the Office of Public Works in 2004 to date.

The bulk of the proceeds of these sales will go to finance the decentralisation programme. Approximately €10 million of the proceeds has been applied to priority projects mainly in the Garda area.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Finance the location of sites and buildings acquired for the Government's decentralisation programme; and the cost involved. [26806/04]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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To date, eight property solutions have been identified for decentralisation purposes and a further 20 locations are at an advanced stage in the acquisition process. The locations involved are Carlow, Longford, Newcastle West, Athlone, the Curragh, Sligo, Dundalk and Furbo. The Chief State Solicitor is processing contract documents in respect of sites at Carlow, Longford and Newcastle West and it is expected that the associated acquisition phase will be completed as quickly as possible. State-owned land will accommodate the decentralised buildings scheduled for Athlone, the Curragh and Sligo, while the proposed location of the Dundalk building will be on land at the Dundalk Institute of Technology. It is proposed to locate the staff at Furbo in an extension to an existing building. The cost of the sites at Carlow, Longford and Newcastle West will be of the order of €1.8 million.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Finance when he proposes to commence the Dublin applications facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26807/04]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Detailed discussions have been held with the Civil Service and public service unions on the procedures used to deal with applications under central applications facility. A document which records the main features of these discussions on human resource issues is on the central applications facility website. The Government and the decentralisation implementation group, chaired by Mr. Phil Flynn, have continually stressed the voluntary nature of the decentralisation programme. They have noted that special attention must be paid to the interests of those staff who for a range of personal and other reasons have decided not to relocate from Dublin. The personal and career needs of those who opt to remain in Dublin are just as important as the needs of those who decide to relocate.

In the light of the information on numbers and grades already available from the central applications facility, further discussions are underway between management and unions on the next stage of the programme. These discussions will concentrate on the transfer arrangements for staff who have applied under the central applications facility for moves within and between Departments as well as on the most appropriate ways of supporting those staff who do not wish to relocate. Staff serving in areas which are being decentralised and who wish to remain in Dublin will also have to be reassigned if possible to other posts in their existing Departments and offices. Detailed arrangements for managing this will be an important feature of the new round of discussions. It is clearly in the interests of all staff and of the efficient implementation of the programme that the approach adopted meets staff needs and the business needs of their employing Departments and organisations.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Finance the sum total of Dublin-based civil servants who have applied to CAF and who indicated their willingness to remain with their current Department and in their current grade. [26808/04]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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A total of 1,029 Dublin-based civil servants lodged priority applications to relocate with their own Department or office up to the closing date for priority applications on 7 September 2004. An exact grade match for each Department and office is not yet available. The CAF is still open to receive applications. Full details of the priority applications to the CAF have been published and are available at www.finance.gov.ie.