Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Finance, further to Question No. 214 of 17 November 2004, if he will provide a reply to same. [30243/04]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In my reply to Question No. 214 on 17 November 2004 I set out the range of factors that were taken into account and measured against each other in selecting locations for all the new decentralised offices. The then Minister for Finance first announced the Government's intention to embark on a new decentralisation programme in the 2000 budget. Following that announcement, the Department of Finance received representations, submissions and inquiries on behalf of more than 130 centres throughout the country, including Wicklow, seeking to be included in the programme. In addition there were meetings at official level between the Department of Finance and other Departments and with each of the Civil Service unions.

The strategic management initiative implementation group of Secretaries General provided advice, at the request of the Government. Heads of relevant Departments provided views, at the request of the Government, on the experience of their respective Departments with the previous programme of decentralisation. In addition, one major public service union provided advice, in response to an invitation from the then Minister, on the development of criteria for the programme.

All of the material, together with the factors set out in reply to Question No. 214 of 17 November 2004, were taken into account prior to the announcement of the new programme in December 2004.