Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 399: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in relation to decentralisation proposals that are relevant to his Department he is satisfied that sufficient numbers of staff at secretary and assistant secretary level are currently willing to decentralise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5028/06]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 400: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Secretary General of his Department has consulted with officers at assistant secretary level regarding decentralisation; the number who have expressed an interest in decentralising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5043/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 400 together.

Of the approximately 300 posts in my Department decentralising to Carlow there are, based on the most recent information available, 256 first preference applications registered with the Central Applications Facility. In 2004 the Department of Finance requested each Secretary General or head of office to discuss the question of decentralisation with his or her senior officers at assistant secretary level. In total, up to 60 posts at this level are due to relocate under the decentralisation programme. The decentralisation implementation group reported in September 2004 that, at that stage, 19 individuals indicated that they would move or were likely to move and a further 19 would consider moving at a later stage. Since then vacancies at this level, including in my Department, are being filled by the top level appointments committee, TLAC, on the basis that the successful candidate will decentralise at the appropriate time.

I do not consider it appropriate to indicate the individual preferences of officers at this level in my Department. Senior management of my Department are actively involved in the preparation of the implementation plans for decentralisation to meet the timescale emerging from the work of the decentralisation implementation group.