A proposal to move a national health organisation to the constituency of Mr Brian Cowen when he was minister for health appears to have been abandoned.
In a move which outraged staff, it was announced in 1999 that the National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC) was to move to Tullamore, in the Laois-Offaly constituency of Mr Cowen.
However, it has now emerged that the centre is to move into new offices in Dublin.
Intensive discussions took place between the centre and the Department of Health on the proposal to move to the midlands, with the centre expressing trenchant opposition to the plan.
It advocated a relocation to an alternative premises in Dublin, since its existing accommodation at Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital was overcrowded, inadequate and "substandard in terms of health and safety".
Mr Cowen resisted a plea that the centre be relocated instead to Blanchardstown, saying the high cost of rent was one of the main reasons for his reluctance to move the centre there.
Three days before Mr Cowen left the Department of Health to become Minister for Foreign Affairs in January 2000, a letter from his private secretary, Mr Bernard O'Shea, to the NDSC, which has been seen by The Irish Times, said: "I am to point out to you that the very high cost of the relocation of the centre from Sir Patrick's Dun's Hospital to Blanchardstown, as recommended by your board, was a major factor in the Minister's decision".
However, it has now been decided that the NDSC should move to new premises in Dublin within the next few weeks.
Confirming the move, the Department of Health said a new premises at 25-27 Gardiner Street has been identified. "The centre is likely to occupy the new premises in March of this year subject to kit-out and some refurbishments," a spokesman for the Department said.
Asked if plans to move the centre to Tullamore had therefore effectively been shelved, the Department said in a statement: "Any proposed decentralisation of the office i.e. a relocation outside of Dublin, is a matter which would be considered as part of the Government's wider programme in that area".
Earlier this month the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, said he did not know when an announcement would be made on the Government's plans to decentralise 10,000 civil servants outside Dublin.
Documents obtained by The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act indicate that staff strongly resisted the proposal.