Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Finance the steps in place to ensure that the State receives full value for money in regard to contracts to purchase or lease that have been entered into arising from the Government's planned decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33064/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Commissioners of Public Works have informed me that prior to entering into contracts to purchase or lease any particular property solution, a detailed and comprehensive assessment process is carried out.

This assessment process includes valuation reports on each option by professionally qualified valuers in order to establish the prevailing market values; a technical evaluation of all potentially suitable options, including architectural, structural engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, and fire and security; seeking planning advice and archaeological reports where appropriate; and legal advice on title from the Chief State Solicitor.

On the basis of the relevant technical, valuation and other reports, a preferred option is identified and sanction is then sought from the Department of Finance to negotiate for its acquisition.

The Commissioners of Public Works are of the opinion that the procedures in place ensure that the prices paid for the properties acquired under the decentralisation programme are reflective of market values and represent good value for the taxpayer.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the claim made by the trade union IMPACT that it will cost up to €65 million per year to retain specialist staff who do not wish to relocate under the decentralisation programme, but who will have no obvious role in Dublin; if his Department has undertaken any assessment of the likely cost of retraining arising from the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33063/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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While I am aware from media reports of the claim referred to by the Deputy, I am not aware of the basis of or the assumptions underpinning the claim and I can therefore offer no further comment on it.

As the Deputy will be aware from previous statements, duplication of staff in Dublin and the new locations is not planned. The Government has always recognised that, in addition to the personnel who have applied to decentralise, there is another group of equally dedicated civil and public servants who, for a range of personal and other reasons, are not in a position to relocate from Dublin. At the time of the announcement of the programme, the Government made it clear that all of those wishing to remain in Dublin would be offered alternative public service jobs. Arrangements will be put in place to allow staff whose jobs are being decentralised and who opt not to move out of Dublin to be reassigned to other jobs in Dublin. These will be discussed with the trade unions.

A number of meetings have already taken place between my Department and the unions representing professional and technical grades in Dublin and another such meeting will take place shortly.

In its most recent report, published in July, the decentralisation implementation group recognised that applications from the professional and technical grades have been fewer than in the general service grades. However, while the group recognised the particular complexities of the issues involved for these grades, it nonetheless said it believed progress in the coming months is possible through further discussion.