Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Finance the location that has proved most attractive in the context of the Government's decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27085/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Drogheda has attracted the highest number of applications on the central applications facility. Over 1,000 civil and public servants have expressed a first preference on the CAF for that location.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Finance the cost to date of the Government's decentralisation programme, including site or building acquisition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27086/05]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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The OPW is currently in the process of procuring appropriate properties in the designated locations for the Departments and agencies involved in the Government's decentralisation programme. Property acquisition negotiations are completed or are significantly advanced at 23 locations. The total amount committed to date on site acquisition in these locations is approximately €35.7 million. The cost to date of professional services, including fees, site investigations, etc. is €1.6 million.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Finance when he expects the targets in respect of decentralisation to be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27087/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I expect that the target of relocating over 10,000 civil and public servants will be achieved. There is significant interest in the programme and to date there have been 10,500 applications. As the Deputy knows responsibility for implementation within each Department lies with the relevant Ministers and I know my Cabinet colleagues are fully committed to the programme. The decentralisation implementation group set out a timetable for implementation of the Civil Service elements of the programme in its most recent report to me in June. The report can be found at www.decentralisation.gov.ie.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress of the Government's decentralisation programme; the number of public servants who have agreed to transfer on a county by county basis to date; the number that have already transferred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27088/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Decentralisation Implementation Group was appointed to drive forward the overall implementation of the decentralisation programme. The two reports of the implementation group dated 31 March 2004 and 30 July 2004 provided detailed recommendations in implementing the programme. In addition, the implementation group prepared two further reports in November 2004 and one in June 2005 which were approved by the Government and subsequently published. The November report identified the organisations and locations which, in the implementation group's view, should be the first to relocate. This included details of the indicative construction completion dates in respect of office accommodation for the early mover organisations. The June 2005 report described the progress which has been made to date. It reviewed and updated the implementation plan in the light of the developments and dealt with the sequencing of further moves.

The OPW has to date agreed property solutions for most of the early mover locations. Sites for the remaining locations in the programme are being pursued by the OPW. The Public Appointments Service has provided Departments with the details of those civil and public servants who have applied to relocate with them. Departments are now arranging for the transfer of staff into each organisation for training purposes.

The table below shows the destination counties for applicant's first preferences for decentralisation. It should be noted that this table represents a snapshot of applications at a particular date. The position may change over time as applicants may opt to alter their first preference as the process evolves and as timeframes for relocating to particular towns are finalised. The Deputy may also wish to note that a small number of advance parties have relocated this year to Sligo, Portlaoise, Thurles, Tipperary town and Na Furbacha.