Major changes to the Government's decentralisation plans are recommended in two reports published by the Department of Finance today.
Some 3,500 positions in the civil and public service have been targetted for relocation by 2008 to 20 towns throughout the State in the reports by the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG), chaired by the former president of ICTU, Mr Phil Flynn.
A further 1,500 positions are still under review with the DIG due to report next Spring.
The recommendations have been accepted by the Government, the Minister for Finance, Mr Cowen, said.
When the original decentralisation plan was announced by then minister for finance, Mr Charlie McCreevy, in last year's Budget, 10,300 positions were due to be transferred by 2007.
Mr McCreevy's target was met with much public and political scepticism and today's announcement marks a major Government climbdown.
The second of today's DIG reports indicates that savings on the cost of buildings will not be realised until 2026.
With buildings in the capital being sold or rental agreements ended, decentralisation to areas outside Dublin where rental charges are lower will lead to savings.
The DIG concluded the cost of site and buildings acquisition along with charges on terminating existing leases would mean that between 2006 and 2010, cash would be needed to finance the plan. Savings would then begin to accrue and by 2026 the plan would have repaid the investment, the group found.
Despite the changes to the original plan, the Minster for Finance, Mr Cowen said: "The reports being published today, and the earlier reports of the Flynn group show that implementation of the programme is well on track."
The first report lists 15 Government departments and agencies to be moved outside the capital in the first phase of the plan, involving 21 projects, 20 locations, nearly 3,500 jobs and the transfer of eight headquarters.
Eleven of the fifteen will get under way next year. Eight will finish in 2006, nine in 2007 and four in 2008. In the first phase, 2,130 jobs are expected to be relocated.
Drogheda, Co Louth, is to be headquarters for the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Department of Social and Family Affairs which are moving 47 and 215 jobs respectively.
The Department of Social and Family Affairs will also relocate 100 jobs to Sligo, while Communications will send a further 91 jobs to Clonakilty, Co Cork.
Among other offices which will be first to move are the HQ of the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism which will bring 141 posts to Kilarney, Co Kerry, and the head office of the Departments of Defence which will move 202 jobs to Newbridge, Co Kildare.
The Department of Agriculture moves to Portlaoise, Co Laois, involving the relocation of 392 jobs, plus 203 IT staff. The Office of Public Works is moving 333 jobs to Trim, Co Meath, while the Department of Finance is moving 135 jobs to Tullamore, Co Offaly.
The Revenue Commissioners is relocating 50 jobs each to Kilrush, Co Clare, Listowel, Co Kerry, and Newcastle West, Co Limerick.
The Irish Prisons Service is moving 159 jobs to Longford, while 125 jobs in the Department of Foreign Affairs move to Limerick. The Department of Transport is moving 40 jobs to Loughrea, Co Galway.