Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is reassessing the so-called decentralisation process in view of recent figures regarding numbers of persons willing to relocate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38906/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I have no plans to change the scale or scope of the decentralisation programme, to which there has been a very good response rate. In line with the timeframes set out by the decentralisation implementation group in its June report, I expect that up to 1,000 people will have decentralised to 11 locations by the end of 2006 or early 2007.

As the Deputy will be aware, there have been approximately 10,600 applications so far and new applications are being received each week. Since the closing of the priority application period on 7 September 2004, an average of 100 new applications have been received each month. The CAF remains open and continues to accept applications.