Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department's overall plan for relocation of civil servants has been modified in view of recent developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19436/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's policy on completion of the programme is unchanged. I have no plans to change the scale or scope of the Decentralisation programme.

Over 10,600 civil and public servants have applied to the Central Applications Facility. The figures confirm that this is a popular programme among staff.

To date some 1,500 people have been assigned to posts destined for new locations and are currently being trained in their new role in readiness to move. So far, some 200 of these have actually relocated and it is expected that up to 1,000 will have moved by end 2006/early 2007.

While many staff have opted to move to locations outside of Dublin, others have indicated that they wish to be assigned to posts remaining in Dublin. The Government is committed to facilitating those who wish to remain with a public service post in Dublin.

There is an extensive range of preparations ongoing in relation to the acquisition of property by the OPW, as well as the detailed implementation planning within individual Departments, Offices and Agencies, and ongoing discussions with unions in relation to the various human resource aspects of the programme.

As always when dealing with a programme of this size there are challenges to overcome but I remain confident that these can be addressed with the active co-operation of all parties involved in the implementation effort.