Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with other Departments or State agencies which are concerned at the potential loss of expertise and corporate knowledge as a result of the Government's decentralisation programme; the steps being taken to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7872/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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When the decentralisation programme was announced by my predecessor he appointed a decentralisation implementation group to drive the process forward. The group's terms of reference include the examination of how decentralisation might enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the public service.

The implementation group asked that all organisations participating in the programme prepare detailed implementation plans, including risk mitigation plans. These plans were prepared and submitted to the group. In its July 2004 report the group noted that the overall quality of the plans was good. In line with a recommendation in the group's November 2004 report, each of the Departments and organisations scheduled as early movers has prepared a revised implementation plan detailing the steps that need to be taken to complete the moves to the new locations successfully. These have been submitted to the group which has been examining them in detail. All other decentralising organisations are preparing revised implementation plans. I understand the implementation group has recently been meeting the Secretaries General of decentralising Departments to discuss the overall planning frameworks and review progress to date.

On a more general note, the Deputy will be interested to note that the Committee for Public Management Research, CPMR, has prepared a discussion paper, CPMR Paper No. 30, entitled, A Review of Knowledge Management in the Irish Civil Service. This study aims to raise awareness of knowledge management issues and approaches among Departments and Offices.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of civil servants and other public servants who had been decentralised from Dublin to other locations by the original deadline for the completion of the plan of December 2006; his plans to review the scale or scope of the proposal in view of the very poor response to the scheme so far; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7874/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I have no plans to change the scale or scope of the decentralisation programme. 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 end 2006 or early 2007.

I do not accept the Deputy's view that there has been a poor response to the programme. On the contrary, the Government is very pleased with the numbers who have applied to the central applications facility, CAF. There have been approximately 10,600 applications so far and new applications are being received each week. The CAF remains open and continues to accept further new applications. In addition, there has been considerable movement of staff within and between Departments and offices in preparation for decentralisation, with about 1,150 officers already assigned to posts that will decentralise. Departments are continuing their detailed preparations on all aspects of the programme.