The queue of politicians to bring a slice of the public service back home formed almost as soon as Mr Charlie McCreevy announced last December that 10,000 civil servants were to be decentralised away from Dublin.
The proposal was based on two simple and matching policy imperatives: the need to rejuvenate towns around the State and the need to take pressure off the capital's creaking infrastructure.
But it was always going to be trouble. Politicians may be responsible for running the State, but they are each elected by just a small piece of it. Bringing a cluster of jobs to their home town is a sure-fire vote winner.
Those who thought they might have some influence with Mr McCreevy - his Cabinet colleagues, Ministers of State, backbenchers and the independents whose support the Government needs - got on the job fast.
More than 100 locations have now been suggested by more than 80 Oireachtas members (almost all Government supporters) in representations made to Mr McCreevy. To judge by the correspondence, shown to The Irish Times following a request under the Freedom of Information Act, not only Dail backbenchers but Ministers see their role in the issue as looking after their own constituencies over and above all other considerations.
Some of it is comical, but there is a serious issue in danger of being overlooked: decentralisation is supposed to be the tool of a long-term development strategy for the State and the public service. Instead, it is seen by backbenchers, junior Ministers and some senior Cabinet members as a vote-catching opportunity.
Some Ministers have been unable to wait. Last year the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, announced he was moving the Legal Aid Board to his home town of Cahirciveen.
Earlier this year the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, decided to move the Civil Defence headquarters from Dublin to his home town of Roscrea, Co Tipperary.
Two Dublin-based sections of the military are to be moved to Clonmel, Co Tipperary, the home town of Mr Smith's neighbouring Fianna Fail TD, Mr Noel Davern, and, in one of his last acts as Minister for Health, Mr Brian Cowen announced the movement of the National Disease Surveillance Centre to Tullamore, in his own constituency.
Under intense pressure, Mr McCreevy is said to be determined to ensure the entire process doesn't become a parishpump exercise. While 100 locations have their political supporters, sources say only about 30 have a chance of being selected.
Buried in the avalanche of political representations are some well researched, tightly argued cases on behalf of particular towns. Sources close to the Minister say he will choose locations which need a boost and which have the facilities and services required to house a public service operation. He is also, so far, resisting the easy option of postponing decisions. They will be taken before the end of this year, he repeated yesterday.
Mr McCreevy has acquired some cover for the political flak that will follow decisions that will disappoint more towns that they will please. The responsibility for the decisions has been spread among four Ministers, with the Taoiseach, Tanaiste, Minister for Finance and Minister for the Environment now on the subcommittee making the decisions.