Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I have requested a debate on decentralisation on a few occasions recently. It might sound like an old chestnut but it is almost two years since the initial announcement of the decentralisation programme and there has been a total lack of progress in that regard. For instance, last week in Mallow the chairperson of Fáilte Ireland indicated that the proposed decentralisation project to Mallow could take at least ten years to transpire. If that is symptomatic of the delivery of the decentralisation project announced two years ago, it proves that it is not just derailed but a joke. We need to introduce some realism into the debate on this issue. We need to have a debate to ascertain what exactly the Government is planning. Notwithstanding that the announcement of the project two years ago was in advance of a local election, I am sure there was probably a genuine intention to introduce decentralisation, but it is simply is not happening. We need to hear directly from the senior Minister concerned or from the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, and learn what their plans are. We need to ascertain if the Government is still committed to decentralisation because the announcement of December 2003 is now seen as little more than electoral window dressing. I ask the Deputy Leader to arrange a debate on decentralisation in advance of the Budget Statement.