The Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, is to meet National Disease Surveillance Centre representatives to discuss plans to move its offices from Dublin to Offaly.
Staff at the NDSC were informed by former minister Mr Cowen the day before he left office that their offices would be transferred to Tullamore, in his Laois/Offaly constituency.
The first staff knew of the plan was during a budget meeting with a Department of Health official in November when he told them about the proposal. The NDSC wrote to the Minister requesting a meeting.
"No meeting took place and on January 26th, 2000, we received a letter confirming that the centre was to be located in Tullamore," NDSC director Ms Darina O'Flanagan said.
Mr Martin said the decision had been approved in November. However, he was willing to meet NDSC officials to discuss their concerns.
