Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

On being elected to this House, I frequently raised the issue of decentralisation or the lack of it. I thank the Leader for organising a worthwhile debate on this issue recently. Many statements have been made by members of the Front Bench. I have heard different statements from the Minister responsible and from other Ministers. However, one Minister issued a statement this week that a decision on decentralisation would be made before Christmas and the towns designated would be announced. People in many towns have been waiting four years to hear this decision. The Minister, Deputy McCreevy, announced four years ago that 10,000 jobs would be decentralised to areas which had previously not benefited. I would like the Taoiseach or the Minister for Finance to come into the House and outline whether such a decision will be made before Christmas 2003 as opposed to another Christmas.