Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

If the 2011 review were to recommend not going ahead with the decentralisation programme in a particular town, will that mean that the contingency group in the town, which has lived semi-permanently there, will be transferred back to Dublin?

Does the Taoiseach agree the decentralisation programme as envisaged by the Government has failed? The Taoiseach knows from his town's experience, and I from mine, that where a well-planned decentralisation programme has operated, it has been a success. For example, I understand the local government appointments commission was to be decentralised to Clonakilty. There is no railway line to the town which would affect every applicant going for interview. Some of the locations chosen by the then Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, were not suitable for the type of office to be decentralised. A well-planned and well-managed decentralisation programme is always of benefit, depending on the level at which it is operated.

Does the Taoiseach accept the programme, as outlined by the then Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, has failed? I know, a Cheann Comhairle, you were interested in having the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Irish Sports Council decentralised to Killarney — a fine town with which I have some acquaintance. Recently, two public servants left Killarney for Dublin to assist in answering questions for the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. The train, however, broke down before reaching Mallow. Between taxis and other trains and lack of mobile telephone coverage, the two public servants never arrived to Dublin on the day. Where Ministers require back-up in the Houses or elsewhere, the decentralisation process has not worked well in their favour.

The Taoiseach's predecessor, Deputy Bertie Ahern, spoke about Microsoft and having video links across the country. As the Taoiseach knows this requires full width broadband which is not available in many of the decentralisation programme locations. Does the Taoiseach accept the programme has failed in reaching its set targets? Is he serious about a review in 2011, as some time before a general election would not normally be in the offing?

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