Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Finance when the second phase of decentralisation will be announced; the locations to be included in this phase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4912/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In its report to Government in November 2004 the decentralisation implementation group, DIG, identified 15 organisations and offices as early movers. This involved 21 projects, 20 locations, nearly 3,500 jobs and the transfer of eight headquarters. The report contained a schedule showing indicative construction start and completion dates for the procurement of office accommodation in the new locations.

Subsequently the DIG submitted a further progress report to the Minister for Finance on 30 June 2005 in which it recommended that the remaining 24 Civil Service organisations and locations not listed earlier as early movers should advance to a more active stage of preparation for relocation. The group provided indicative construction completion dates for each of these organisations and locations. The full contents of this report can be accessed at www.decentralisation.gov.ie.

On the State agencies, the DIG noted that little progress had been made on mobility of staff between State agencies and between those agencies and the Civil Service. The group recommended that Departments and agencies should engage with the unions to see what ground breaking initiative could be taken to advance this issue. In view of the more individualised approach which the DIG saw as being necessary for the relocation of State agencies the group decided not to include specific timeframes for the relocation of these agencies.