Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the serious issues raised in correspondence attached (details supplied) in relation to the severely restricted options for civil servants on the northside of Dublin who will have no Department to relocate to on the north side of the Liffey should decentralisation proceed with as planned; if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns of staff in relation to commuting times and caring for dependants; and if he will revisit this proposal. [27303/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of Public Works is responsible for both property procurement and disposal. The overall objective is to ensure that property being acquired at a regional level is matched as closely as possible, both in time and in cost terms, by the disposal of property currently held in the Dublin region, whether held on lease or otherwise.

No decisions have been made yet on the disposal, retention or re-allocation of office buildings in Dublin post-decentralisation. The Office of Public Works will bear in mind the particular requirements of Departments remaining in Dublin and the need to ensure that all office space remaining in Dublin is utilised in the most cost effective manner possible.

Civil and public servants who do not wish to transfer to a decentralised location will be assigned to an alternative public service post in Dublin. Each individual will be able to indicate via his or her personnel section the organisations remaining in Dublin which would interest him or her.

As information becomes available from the central applications facility it will be possible to identify vacancies which will arise in organisations remaining in Dublin as a result of individuals in those organisations applying to transfer to decentralised posts. Consultations will be held with the public service unions on an ongoing basis to address the concerns of all staff affected by the programme.