Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

Perhaps we can be objective for a moment. I heard the Taoiseach say that the Opposition has been too negative and the process is taking a little more time than originally anticipated, but the scheme is good. The most successful example of decentralisation is in Portlaoise in my and the Taoiseach's constituency. The Taoiseach cited it here and in other places as the flagship of decentralisation. I put it to the Taoiseach that there are, in fact, six buildings in Portlaoise incorporating sections of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and if one is speaking about efficiency, having people in six different locations in a small provincial town is not in the best interests of proper management. When will a proper programme of building be undertaken for the staff who are scattered around the town in six locations? I understand there will be eight locations before the end of the summer. Is that proper management? Is that proper consideration of efficiencies? This is the flagship project.

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