Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

——there needs to be increased accountability and performance. It says these needs will impose additional specific pressures on the Irish public service. In light of the figure of 25% relating to technical staff mentioned by the Taoiseach, does he feel it is time to review what is left of the decentralisation programme? I support a well-planned and well-managed decentralisation programme and can see the benefits of it in locations around the country. However, the FÁS ICT unit has three people in Birr and six in Dublin. These people must meet centrally to discuss their business because they have no broadband. That seems to be a shambles.

People from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, which is the subject of questions later, must travel extensively from Killarney to Dublin because most of the bodies with which they deal are in the capital. This obviously involves travel; the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government's carbon footprint emissions; travel expenses; and overnight stays in many cases. We heard the Taoiseach's predecessor talk about multi-corporate companies operating on a worldwide basis with technology like videolinking and all modern means of communications. Here we have a situation where people are travelling from Killarney by train or car to meet the bodies, most of which are based in Dublin, for discussions. It does not seem to be the way to do business.

As I said previously in respect of the ICT unit in FÁS, three people in Birr and six people in Dublin must meet centrally because they have no broadband. That appears to be a complete shambles. A total of 300 posts in Enterprise Ireland were to move to Shannon. A recent survey shows that only seven internal applicants are interested in moving there, no disrespect to Shannon. In respect of the move of the Health and Safety Authority to Thomastown in County Kilkenny, which involves 110 posts, only 12 people have expressed an interest. The National Standards Authority is to relocate to Arklow, with a total of 132 posts. A total of ten Dublin-based staff have said that they want to go there. The Combat Poverty Agency is supposed to go to Monaghan town but no staff have yet moved and there is no indicative time as to when this will happen. Bord Bia is to relocate to Enniscorthy but no staff have moved, no accommodation has been found and there is no indicative timeframe.

As the Taoiseach is aware, this is a voluntary scheme. Obviously, there are difficulties such as families, homes, schools and relationships. Does he think there is a need for a complete re-evaluation of that element of the decentralisation programme in so far as State agencies are concerned? This area is clearly proving to be much more difficult than the general public service.

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