Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has commissioned an independent assessment of the effects of the Government's decentralisation programme on morale within the Civil Service or within the Public Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13028/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I have no plans to commission an assessment of the type referred to by the Deputy. The Government is aware that the decentralisation programme impacts on the staff in the organisations affected, on their career choices and their expectations. From the outset therefore, my Department has put in place a process to discuss the full range of staff issues with union representatives. An approach based on negotiations and agreement has enabled significant progress to be made in relation to civil service general service grades on issues relating to promotion arrangements, protocols for transfer of staff and arrangements for placing staff who wish to remain in Dublin. My Department will continue to work closely with union representatives throughout the transition phase of the Programme to ensure that these arrangements are operating effectively. My Department will also continue to seek to make progress on issues affecting the professional & technical staff and those working in State Agencies.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government's Decentralisation Programme is a voluntary programme. To date over 10,600 applications have been received on the Central Applications Facility (CAF) with over 2,400 staff had been assigned to decentralising posts. Approximately 800 of these are currently in place in 17 new locations while the remainder are being trained in advance of decentralisation to a new location, as soon as accommodation becomes available. It is envisaged that by the end of 2007 public services will be delivered from 36 of the decentralisation towns with approximately 2,000 staff transferred.

While much media coverage of the decentralisation programme has focussed on the negative impact of the Programme on staff, much less attention has been paid to the benefits of decentralisation. Existing Civil and Public Servants seeking to leave Dublin – for example, to return to family and friends back home, or to acquire an affordable and comfortable family home within easy reach of their workplace – will have a broader range of career options. Present and future Civil and Public Servants who aspire to senior management positions will now have options to work either in Dublin or in one of a number of regional locations.