316 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the decentralisation proposals for Kilrush in County Clare; the number of candidates who subscribed for the positions in Kilrush under the decentralisation programme; the number of these who are from Dublin and from other centres throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22524/04]

Fifty posts are due to be decentralised to Kilrush. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of first preference applications received by the Central Applications Facility as of 7 September 2004 are contained in the following table: