Support by the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr McDaid, for a proposal to move staff in six Departments and seven State agencies to Co Donegal is just one of more than 100 representations made this year by politicians seeking to bring civil servants to their home constituencies.
At least eight Ministers, seven Ministers of State and more than 60 TDs and senators have written to the Minister for Finance this year urging him to move Government departments, agencies and offices to their own areas.
The flurry of correspondence from politicians, shown to The Irish Times this week following a request under the Freedom of Information Act, has followed Mr McCreevy's announcement last December of his intention to move 10,000 public servants out of Dublin in a major decentralisation programme.
Dr McDaid's ambitious proposal was initially made by Donegal County Council in a document sent by him to Mr McCreevy in May. Pointing out the proposal to move six Departments and seven semi-State agencies to eight locations in the county, Dr McDaid said: "I agree with all the recommendations contained in the enclosed report."
Other Ministers who have sought decentralisation to their own areas are Ms Sile de Valera, Mr John O'Donoghue, Mr Dermot Ahern, Mr Joe Walsh, Ms Mary O'Rourke, Mr Michael Smith and Mr Brian Cowen.
Sources close to Mr McCreevy insist that many politicians including some Cabinet members will be disappointed when about 30 locations are chosen by a Cabinet subcommittee considering the matter. Representations have been received on behalf of up to 120 towns around the State, including those from three of the four Independent deputies on whom the Government relies for support.
Sources close to the Minister said yesterday that he would resist pressure to scatter small numbers of civil servants to locations around the State. The places chosen would be large enough and have adequate facilities to take an influx of civil servants, the sources said. They would also be places that needed a boost.
Mr McCreevy yesterday rejected reports that the plan would be shelved, due to the political difficulties involved in turning down dozens of towns around the State. There has been speculation that the Government would postpone decisions until after a general election, rather than disappoint failed applicants.
However, Mr McCreevy yesterday promised decisions in relation to the programme by the end of this year, although it is not clear whether he intends all of them to be taken by then. Decisions were initially expected earlier this year, but were postponed.
He has turned down requests from deputies to meet local delegations, confining himself to meetings with each Minister.