Just five of the 24 aid specialists at the Department of Foreign Affairs are prepared to move with their jobs to Limerick under decentralisation, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has been informed.
A total of 11 of the existing staff of the 124-strong Irish Aid division are willing to move with their jobs to the city, along with a further 13 staff from within the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Yesterday the committee was informed by the secretary general of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Dermot Gallagher, that the small number of aid specialists that were willing to move did pose a considerable challenge to the decentralisation plan.
He remained confident, however, the division would meet its deadline of June of next year for the transfer to Limerick.
Irish Aid oversees the €500 million annual overseas development aid programme. This is due to rise to €1.6 billion by 2012.
The 24 aid specialists have years of experience in aid programmes, and as such cannot be replaced by civil servants transferring from other departments.
Mr Gallagher said of the 24 specialists, five were willing to move as they had been hired after decentralisation was announced and a decentralisation clause was in their contracts. Negotiations with the trade union Impact were continuing, and he was hopeful of a resolution.
"There are going to be challenges," he said of the plan, but added that he thought the department was "in a good position" regarding its implementation.
Mr Gallagher also told the committee that he was sceptical about the decision in 2004 to introduce corporate sponsorship for some goods and services during Ireland's presidency of the EU.
The sponsorship saw companies providing goods and services for free during the presidency in return for their names and products being associated with the programme.
The sponsorship saved the Government €3.5 million, mainly through the provision of cars and electronic equipment.
The committee was discussing delays in arranging a sponsor for the provision of limousines and people carriers, which in turn led to tendering problems for chauffeur services.
Because of the delay the department did not go through the normal tendering procedures for the €2 million contract, and this was criticised last year in a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
During the PAC meeting Mr Gallagher also defended the €27 million spend on a new automated system for issuing passports. It has cost more than twice the original €13.5 million estimate.
He said the increased costs had not arisen because of cost overruns but from the addition of extra security features and facilities.