Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the decentralisation of a section of the Revenue Commissioners to Listowel, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29650/04]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that under the decentralisation programme 50 posts are to be decentralised to Listowel and the decision on timing and sequencing will be made following the recommendations of the Government's decentralisation implementation group. The Office of Public Works is examining a number of proposals in relation to a suitable site in Listowel.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with numbers of persons from within the State agencies who have indicated a willingness to decentralise with their agencies; and his views on the assessments from some of the agencies of the risk of damage to delivery of services. [29895/04]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I would accept that the number of applications to the central applications facility, CAF, from the Civil Service are much better than those from the State agencies. Unlike the State agencies the Civil Service has considerable previous experience of decentralisation and has a long tradition of inter-departmental transfers.

The decentralisation implementation group, DIG, asked that all organisations participating in the programme should prepare detailed implementation plans including risk mitigation plans. These plans were prepared and submitted to the group. Most included risk mitigation strategies. In its July report the DIG has recommended, at paragraph 9.3, that in preparing the next version of its implementation plan each organisation should ensure that a risk mitigation strategy is included. I am satisfied that this approach represents a realistic approach to risk identification and mitigation.