Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of civil servants and other public servants who have decentralised as of the original expected completion date of 31 December 2006 and the current date; the way this compares with the Government's target of 10,300; the agencies with no progress; his further proposals in this regard; the expected date for completion of the full decentralisation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30008/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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A progress report by the Decentralisation Implementation Group was submitted to me and published on 8 October last. The group reported that implementation of the Civil Service element of the Decentralisation Programme is progressing satisfactorily. At the end of December 2006, over 2,400 staff had been assigned to decentralising posts in Dublin and this number had increased to over 3,000 at the end of October 2007. Almost 1,300 of them are in place, in 20 new locations, while the rest are being trained in advance of decentralisation to a new location when accommodation becomes available. In addition to these 20 locations there are a further nine locations in which State agencies have established a presence. It is envisaged that by the end of 2007 public services will be delivered from 33 of the decentralisation towns with approximately 2,000 staff transferred. The precise numbers moving within that timeframe will depend on the availability of property as well as timeframes for completion of fit-out and installation of necessary information communications technology and telecommunication cabling and equipment. From the announcement of the Programme in December 2003, the focus has been on detailed planning and organisation of the property, staffing and business aspects. The Decentralisation Implementation Group has considered it essential that organisations take the necessary time to prepare this groundwork to ensure effective implementation of a programme of this scale and complexity. Its focus has not been on how speedily the programme can be achieved but how well. It is important to remember that the programme is not just about moving public services. It fundamentally impacts on the staff in those organisations, on their career choices and their expectations.

While I remain confident that the public service will deliver this programme in a considered, sensible and sensitive manner, I am anxious to ensure that the momentum of the programme is maintained and developed. In that context my Department has asked the Secretaries General of decentralising Departments to review these timeframes in association with the OPW and the Decentralisation Implementation Group to assess where earlier progress could be made either in relation to permanent accommodation or advance accommodation. There are, however, a number of challenges remaining, which have been identified by the group in its latest report. My Department and the wider management of the public service will continue to work closely with staff representatives to seek appropriate solutions to address the concerns of the professional and technical staff in the Civil Service and those employed in State agencies, while also ensuring the delivery of the Government programme. With regard to the State agencies, the group has noted, in its most recent report that the pace of progress in relation to the State agency part of the programme continues to be slow. The Government has always recognised that this aspect of the programme presents different challenges from that of the Civil Service but is determined to make progress towards the objective of moving all the State agency posts as announced in December 2003. I anticipate considerable progress on this element of the programme over the lifetime of this Government. With a view to advancing this aspect of the programme, the DIG is engaging in a round of meetings with each agency's CEO and the Secretary General of the parent Department in each case.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 175: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of properties purchased and sold together with the monetary amounts involved with respect to the decentralisation programme; the locations of the properties and transaction dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30009/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The details of the properties purchased are as follows:

The disposal of State property under the Transforming State Assets Programme has yielded €366,347,997.04 to November 2007, as follows:

Two sites were transferred to Dublin City Council for the Sustaining Progress Affordable Housing Initiative, and two sites were also transferred to The Affordable Homes Partnership. The combined value of the four sites is in the order of €75 million.