There is a growing conviction in the Co Westmeath capital, Mullingar, that the town is to be the location of a Government department.
While the decision lies with the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, the local Chamber of Commerce is happy the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, is helping to further the town's case.
While Ms O'Rourke could have ended up a hate figure in the north end of the county for supporting the Offaly option for the N6, which had the support of her Cabinet colleague, Mr Cowen, there is not a hint of begrudgery against her.
Have the locals in Mullingar done a deal with their own Minister for a Government department instead of the road? Ms Aine O'Meara, chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce, said there was no such deal as far as she was aware.
She referred to a Chamber statement in which Ned Timlin, president of the organisation, said they had a "very open and productive meeting" with the Minister last week.
"Government decentralisation, it was agreed by all, is a key priority for Mullingar. Ms O'Rourke informed the meeting that she is strongly urging her Government colleague Mr McCreevy to consider Mullingar favourably in terms of the next round of decentralisation," said the statement.
"The Minister commented that the joint submission made by Westmeath County Council in March this year, as well as ongoing contact from the Chamber to the Department of Finance, is helpful in advancing the case," it added.
It also pointed out the Minister had promised to meet the National Roads Authority to ask for a substantial upgrading of the N52, both north and south of Mullingar. The question of upgrading the rail links with Dublin was also dealt with.
The question of a possible deal for Mullingar was given the final thumbs down by a contact in the Minister's own Department. He referred to the date of the meeting.
It was, he said, the Monday after the vote of confidence in the Dail when it was clear that no election was due.