Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Finance if any estimate has been undertaken of the number of civil or public servants who do not wish to relocate and who will be surplus to requirements as a result of their jobs being transferred to other locations under the Government's decentralisation programme; the jobs that will be provided for these personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33065/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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From the outset both the Government and I have made it clear that participation in the decentralisation programme is voluntary.

Because of the nature of the programme it is not possible at this stage to estimate the number of public servants who do not wish to relocate as individual circumstances are open to change and therefore figures can fluctuate. The picture will become clearer over the coming period as staff are assigned to decentralising organisations.

As people who have applied to decentralise continue to be transferred into decentralising organisations, the posts they vacate become available to those wishing to remain in Dublin. A number of people have already availed of such opportunities.

It is hoped to extend these arrangements over the coming months and negotiations in this regard are ongoing with the unions who represent civil and public servants.