Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)

Will the Minister comment on the fact that he has not included any figure for decentralisation in the Estimates for 2005? Was this an oversight or the deliberate policy of the Minister? The Minister of State responsible for decentralisation has already acquired eight facilities for decentralisation throughout the country. The Minister's predecessor, Deputy McCreevy, in last year's budget stated that no deals could be entered into until a corresponding building or property in Dublin was disposed of. With regard to the eight properties which have been acquired and the Departments which will use them, will the Minister outline the matching properties which have been disposed of in Dublin city to comply with the former Minister's budget statement of 2004?

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