The Government's decentralisation programme has become more of a relocation exercise, according to the chariman of the Decentralisation Implementation Committee (DIC).
Mr Phil Flynn said there were a number of complex problems and admitted there may not be answers to all the questions. He acknowledged that the programme was effectively about relocation within the provinces as only 4,800 staff had applied to move out of Dublin.
He was, however, adamant the job would be completed and insisted all moves would be voluntary and everyone would be facilitated.
"Our objective is that the delivery of joined-up Government does not suffer as a result of decentralisation and we are convinced we can succeed," he said. "No-one will be compelled to move anywhere and no-one will be demoted."
The Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service expressed grave concerns about the implementation of the programme, the time-frame and the costs.
There are noticeable discrepancies in the numbers applying to move and the positions available.
Some 7,800 staff have expressed an interest in moving, covering around 80 per cent of the new posts. But a large proportion of those are already living in regional areas and only 14 per cent of staff from state agencies have applied to relocate.
Mr Flynn admitted that at this stage they did not have all the answers.
"It is only when we sit down and begin trying to match the grades to the positions that the problems will begin to emerge," he said.
He stressed that the needs of those opting to stay in Dublin were as important as those who want to move.
"When we are finished we will have half the civil service in Dublin and half in the rest of the country and the same number of Government departments in each," he said.
The DIC was asked how certain departments would be able to cope with huge reductions in staff numbers and how general secretaries could guarantee they will be given new, suitable employees, trained to the appropriate level.
Richard Bruton TD asked how the gaps would be filled given the imbalance of civil servants applying to move and the number of posts available, particularly as the Government insists there will be no promotions and no new recruitment.
But the DIC claimed the constant 3% turnover of staff would prove at least apartial solution.
"Of course there are obstacles, there could be a breakdown in services, but if we were not conscious of that we would be deficient," said Mr Flynn. "We are here to identify problems and solutions."
Fine Gael's latest recruit Liam Twomey TD said there seemed to be few answers and a certain amount of "hedging your bets" when it came to making preferences.
Joan Burton, Labour TD added that it appeared highly unlikely the Government's 2007 target was anywhere near deliverable. But Mr Flynn was adamant the vast majority of the system would be in place on time.
Others suggested the 10,000 target figure appeared to have been "plucked from the air" and that the DIC were able to provide few answers.
The programme has proved significantly more popular with lower-grade staff. For example, clerical officers have oversubscribed for the number of jobs available by 112%. By comparison, 93 principal officers have shown interest in relocating, while 241 such positions are available.
Mr Flynn admitted the DIC had not seen any form of business plan which had originally made the case for decentralisation.
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