The Labour Court has awarded 45 Marine Institute staff €3,750 each to move from Dublin to Galway in what it describes as "unique circumstances".
The court says the compensation deal does not set any precedent for some 10,900 public servants due to be decentralised.
The staff members' union, Impact, had sought €7,500 plus a once-off 10 days' additional annual leave for each of the staff in the scientific, technical and clerical grades. The institute relocated from Abbotstown to Oranmore.
According to a recommendation from the court that has just become available, the institute had rejected the union's claim saying the staff were not forced to move but volunteered to do so.
The institute said it was instructed by the Department of Marine and Natural Resources and by the Department of Finance that no money was available for such a claim.
"The institute is precluded by explicit Government policy from conceding this claim," it told the court.
"The concession of this claim would have serious repercussions throughout the public service.
"As the move was voluntary, any concession of this claim would have potential repercussions for the decentralisation moves - about 10,900 people are due to move - which are also voluntary."
Impact said the institute move would not have taken place without the agreement and co-operation of staff and the commitment from the official side to "make every effort to achieve retrospection of an inducement package".
In its finding, the court said it was satisfied the institute move "clearly arose some time prior" to the Government's 2003 decentralisation plan.
"This move to Galway was mooted in 2000 and discussions took place during 2001. A decision was taken to relocate the institute and participation was voluntary, although this presented a career dilemma to some specialist staff."
The court said it was satisfied a "relocation inducement package" had been discussed both in the context of such a deal being conditional on approval, and of such a package emerging in the context of general decentralisation.
"The court recommends, in the unique circumstances of this particular case, that a once-off ex-gratia compensation payment of €3,750 should be made to each of the claimants."