The closing date for receipt of priority applications from the central applications facility was 7 September 2004. Based on the information received on that date, some 48 Dublin-based staff in my Department are seeking a transfer to decentralised offices in Portlaoise, Macroom and Fermoy. While my Department has received a further break-down of the numbers of staff in the Department who wish to transfer to other organisations, this information does not distinguish between Dublin and province-based staff. Many applications have been made through the central applications facility since 7 September.