Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has satisfied himself with the 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. [13314/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I accept that the number of applications to the central applications facility, CAF, from the Civil Service is 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 interdepartmental 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, in 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.