The Taoiseach has said that civil servants wishing to remain in Dublin would be able to apply to do so under a provision in the programme for decentralisation.
Mr Ahern was speaking at a sod-turning event at a sports ground in Cabra today when he made the comments.
He said people who wished to stay in Dublin might not necessarily stay in the same department but would stay in the system.
Mr Ahern said it was "no climb-down" and that the Government would carry through the programme for the decentralisation of several Government departments and an estimated 10,000 civil servants.
