Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of civil servants and other public servants who will have been decentralised from Dublin to other locations by the original deadline for the completion of the plan of December 2006; if, in view of the very poor response to the scheme so far, his plans to review the scale or scope of the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26633/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The response to the decentralisation programme has been excellent. The central applications facility received over 9,000 applications for decentralisation up to the closing date for priority applications which was 7 September 2004. Since that date a steady stream of new applications have been received. At the start of the summer the figure for post 7 September 2004 new applicants was 750. This figure has risen to 1,300 over the past three months following the publication of the most recent decentralisation implementation group report. The central applications facility remains open, continues to accept applications, and will do so for the foreseeable future.

The Office of Public Works is continuing to make good progress on the acquisition of suitable sites and property. In line with the timeframe set out in the most recent report of the decentralisation implementation group, presented to me in June last. I expect that approximately 1,000 civil servants will have relocated by the end of 2006. The timeframes for completion of the programme taking full account of the property, people and business issues involved are also set out in the implementation group's June report.