The closing date for receipt of priority applications to the central applications facility was 7 September 2004. Based on the information provided from this, the total number of persons who applied for decentralisation to my Department's headquarters in Port Laoise is 205. This figure includes staff from my Department, external Civil Service staff and public service staff.
The decentralisation implementation group, chaired by Mr. Phil Flynn, is to report to the Cabinet sub-committee on decentralisation later this month on sequencing and timing. The position may then become clearer as to the estimated time for completion of the decentralisation programme to Port Laoise.