I would accept that the number of applications to the central applications facility, CAF, from the Civil Service are much better than those from the State agencies. Unlike the State agencies the Civil Service has considerable previous experience of decentralisation and has a long tradition of inter-departmental transfers.
The decentralisation implementation group, DIG, asked that all organisations participating in the programme should prepare detailed implementation plans including risk mitigation plans. These plans were prepared and submitted to the group. Most included risk mitigation strategies. In its July report the DIG has recommended, at paragraph 9.3, that in preparing the next version of its implementation plan each organisation should ensure that a risk mitigation strategy is included. I am satisfied that this approach represents a realistic approach to risk identification and mitigation.