Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is not a question of whether the Deputy is entitled to a reply, if the matter is outside the ambit of my Department. However, I am trying to be as helpful as I can be. Since I do not have direct responsibility for the programme I cannot be asked. It is not a question of not meeting the Deputy's entitlements. Of course I shall meet his entitlements, if the questions relate to my Department, but the Deputy is asking me a more general question. The Minister for Finance who has overall responsibility for the decentralisation programme can provide the information.

I do not have the answer to the Deputy's question on the basis of the information available to me because it is outside the ambit of my Department. I try to be helpful when I can as regards general comments

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