Forty-two staff in the office of the Taoiseach have applied to be decentralised.
Bertie Ahern has told the Dáil that the number wishing to leave is a large proportion of his staff.
He also pointed out to the Dáil today that no section in his department is to be decentralised.
The Taoiseach outlined that the proposals went through the "Central applications facility" and staff would "relocate under the decentralisation programme".