Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Bruton raised several issues. First, the progress report was published by my predecessor last October and at that stage the decentralisation implementation group was of the opinion that the programme is progressing satisfactorily. The time frames are, of their nature, indicative and subject to a number of variables. I made it clear in my answer that there has been some slippage regarding them. Planning for a substantial amount of decentralisation and its implementation are well under way.

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