Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Finance when the contract will be signed with the owner of the property in Listowel that will facilitate the decentralisation of 50 Revenue staff to Listowel, Co. Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24831/06]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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The Commissioners of Public Works have informed me that terms have been agreed and contract documents are awaited in relation to a leased building in Listowel that will facilitate the decentralisation of Revenue staff to Listowel.

Contracts will only be entered into when the legal documentation is to the satisfaction of the Chief State Solicitor.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Finance the latest information available from the central applications facility in respect of applications from civil servants and other public servants currently located in Dublin who wish to transfer to new locations outside of Dublin under the Government's decentralisation programme; the way in which this compares with the Government target of 10,300; if agreement has been reached with all public service unions regarding promotional opportunities for those who choose to move and those who opt to remain where they are; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24949/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Over ten and a half thousand civil and public servants applied on the Central Applications Facility to relocate under the government's Decentralisation Programme. Over 9,000 of the applications are from civil servants and over 1,000 are from public servants. Over 50% of the applications are from staff currently based in Dublin.

1,700 civil servants have already been assigned to posts which will relocate. Therefore, almost 25% of the total numbers of civil service posts involved in the programme have been filled. Over half of these assignees were Dublin based.

In the civil service, progress has been made in discussions with the general service unions on promotion arrangements. Discussions are ongoing with the unions representing the professional and technical grades in the civil service. I am hopeful this and other implementation issues arising in the state agency sector can be discussed with the relevant unions with a view to arriving at arrangements which support the decentralisation process while also meeting the concerns of staff. In the meantime, practices in decentralising organisations relating to recruitment, promotion, etc. must take account of the reality of decentralisation.