Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason civil servants who have been offered positions under decentralisation are not being released by their Departments to take up their new assignments; the steps he is taking to resolve this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39269/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Discussions have concluded with the civil service unions on a number of human resource and industrial relations matters, including staff transfer protocols, and in the main these are working well. To date decentralising organisations have established a presence in 12 new locations and at the end of October 2006, over 2,300 staff have been assigned to decentralising posts. These are currently in place or are being trained in advance of decentralisation to a new location, as soon as accommodation becomes available.

In a limited number of cases the release of staff by Departments and Offices can be slower than is provided for under the staff transfer protocols. The release of staff is managed between the two Departments involved in the transfer and the release date is agreed so as to avoid disruption to the business operation of the Department from which the officer is departing.

My Department monitors the situation on an ongoing basis and will continue to act in consultation with Departments and the staff unions to resolve cases where delays have arisen.