I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 98 and 102 to 104, inclusive, together.
The Government announced the details of its decentralisation programme in December last year. The decentralisation implementation group, DIG, chaired by Mr. Phil Flynn presented its initial report to Government on 31 March 2004. In this report the DIG requested that all Departments produce an implementation plan by the end of May. My Department's plan has in recent days been finalised and submitted to the DIG. The State bodies under the aegis of my Department are requested to prepare and submit their own individual implementation plans. Since the announcement of the decision to decentralise, my Department has consulted with its staff and kept them informed of all developments on an ongoing basis. This has been achieved through the Department's partnership committees — the departmental council and bilateral discussions with individual trade unions. Also a decentralisation unit has been established and a dedicated site has been created on the Department's Intranet, e-zone, to keep staff appraised of developments.
I am satisfied that these measures have led to the morale of my staff being maintained and it is worth reiterating the fact that the programme is voluntary. It is anticipated that many staff of my Department will apply to transfer to a decentralisation location in this and other Departments-agencies under the central applications facility, CAF. The CAF which was launched recently by the Civil Service Commission will facilitate further the planning of the decentralisation process and the initial information from the CAF will be submitted to the DIG. next month which in turn will make detailed recommendations to Government on the timetable for the various aspects of the programme as a whole.
My Department established an implementation committee which is headed by an Assistant Secretary to oversee all aspects of the programme. This committee is considering all aspects of the decentralisation process and will report on the key issues to the Secretary General and myself. I am satisfied that all the necessary measures will be taken to ensure that the decentralisation process is implemented in an economic and efficient manner for the administration of the services provided by my Department. This committee has also commenced the process of identifying and categorising the risks associated with decentralisation. The main risks are expected to come under the headings of service delivery, financial, human resources and accommodation. Proposals to deal with identified risks will be submitted to the Department's risk management committee and the audit committee. This process will be carried out in accordance with our now established procedures for risk management.
My Department's annual report will also deal with the issue of decentralisation along the lines required by the Mullarkey report. Freedom of information requests for access to any information which is not immediately made publicly available for any reason will in the normal course be dealt with under all the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003.