129 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if staff at the letterpost area office located at Mullingar will be afforded the opportunity to transfer to the offices of the Department of Education and Science which are being decentralised to Mullingar under the decentralisation plan. [31614/04]

All applications to participate in the decentralisation programme must be submitted through the central applications facility launched in May 2004. The creation of the central applications facility was recommended by the decentralisation implementation group in its report of March 2004. In paragraph 2.13 of that report, the group recommended that applications would be invited from all civil servants, staff of all non-commercial State-sponsored bodies and staff of the two commercial State companies included in the programme. Staff of the remaining commercial State companies, including An Post, are not eligible to participate in the programme.

130 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if it is possible for persons employed by An Post and who hold civil service status to transfer to one of the Departments that is being decentralised under the scheme of decentralisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31615/04]

All applications to participate in the decentralisation programme must be submitted through the central applications facility launched in May 2004. The creation of the central applications facility was recommended by the decentralisation implementation group in its report of March 2004. In paragraph 2.13 of that report, the group recommended that applications would be invited from all civil servants, staff of all non-commercial State-sponsored bodies and staff of the two commercial State companies included in the programme.

Staff of the remaining commercial State companies, including An Post, are not eligible to participate in the programme.

132 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for Finance his proposals in respect of the decentralisation programme for Thurles and Roscrea; the position with regard to the acquisition of sites or accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31618/04]

The report of the decentralisation implementation group entitled "Selection of organisations/locations for inclusion in the first phase of moves" was published on 24 November 2004. It included details of those organisations and locations to be included in the first phase of moves together with details of the criteria used by the group to select those locations. Roscrea is not among those locations. The contents of the group's report can be accessed at www.finance.gov.ie. The decentralisation implementation group will report again in spring 2005 on the organisations and locations not covered in the report.

On Thurles, the decentralisation implementation group notes in paragraph 3.2 of its report that a total of 200 jobs, comprising jobs of gardaí and civil servants, are due to be relocated to Thurles. The group recommends that the Garda Commissioner should, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, prepare an updated implementation plan by 14 February 2005, including an implementation schedule with a phased timeline.