Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which the decentralisation programme has been advanced in the year to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7424/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The two reports of the Decentralisation Implementation Group, DIG, dated 31 March 2004 and 30 July 2004 provide detailed accounts of the progress made in implementing the decentralisation programme announced last December. An analysis of the applications registered with the central applications facility by 7 September 2004 has also been published.

Each organisation produced a first iteration of its implementation plans by end May 2004. The implementation group rated the plans overall as good. Updated versions of the plans are being submitted at various dates in early 2005. Overall, I am very pleased with the progress which has already been made in driving forward the implementation of the programme.

In addition the DIG report published on 24 November 2004 contains proposals on those organisations-locations which, in the group's view, should be included in the first phase of moves and the DIG will report to me again in the spring of 2005 about progress in relation to implementation of the programme. The group will also deal in that report with the locations and organisations not covered in the November 2004 report.