More than 2,000 civil servants will have decentralised to 29 towns and cities by the end of next year, Minister for Finance Brian Cowen said today.
The original decentralisation plan, unveiled by Mr Cowen's predecessor, Charlie McCreevy in 2003, ambitiously aimed to relocate 10,300 staff to 53 locations within three years at no cost to the Exchequer.
However the programme, which is now expected to cost up to €1 billion, has been dogged by staff resistance, union disputes and rising property prices.
Launching a progress report from the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG), Mr Cowen today said the revised target of moving 6,800 staff by the end of 2009 remains on target.
"The success of the programme can be seen from the fact that decentralisation is now a reality in 12 new locations and that over 2,000 civil servants will have relocated to 29 locations by the end of 2007," Mr Cowen noted.
"This steady level of progress is an indication of the level of interest in relocating among civil servants and represents an endorsement of the ability of public service managers to effectively manage the staffing, business and property issues arising.
"Staff are being assigned to decentralising posts and are being trained in advance of their decentralisation to buildings in new locations which are being acquired by the Office of Public Works."
Mr Cowen said the Finance Department and public service managers will continue to work out problems with staff in state agencies.
Minister of State Tom Parlon has acquired property or is close to acquisitions in more than 34 locations.
The 13-page report says 1,000 staff will have relocated to over 20 towns around the country within six months.