Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2004
108 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance his plans for the expenditure of the €20 million capital allocated for up-front capital costs of decentralisation; if any of this money has been either committed or spent to date; if so, when; and where it will be spent. [15065/04]
View answerAs I announced in my budget statement, €20 million has been provided in my Department's Vote for 2004 to meet any up-front capital costs arising from decentralisation. The report of the decentralisation implementation group, which was accepted by the Government in April, set out the blueprint for proceeding with decentralisation, including the option of developing new offices on sites to be acquired by OPW as well as the possibility of adapting existing buildings.
The Office of Public Works has made considerable progress on the procurement front to the extent that my Department has already sanctioned the acquisition of a six acre site in Longford at a cost of €510,000. I expect finalisation of acquisition deals to accelerate in the coming months with a consequent increase in the rate of expenditure under this heading.
109 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the reason staff are being excluded from the CAF by not being given the chance to express a first preference for the location to which their job is being decentralised as without this information it is not possible to make an informed decision regarding decentralisation; and the reason he is excluding a large number of civil servants and discriminating against them by allowing some civil servants an advantage over others in that they can plan for their move before their colleagues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15088/04]
View answerPublic servants who apply to participate in the decentralisation programme under the central applications facility, CAF, can express a total of ten preferences. People who apply before 8 July will get preference over those who apply later. I am aware that ICT and health sector staff are awaiting announcements on locations for their work areas. Announcements on these will be made as soon as possible so that staff can apply for the locations for which ICT and health staff are destined.
