Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I will not go into the background of this as I have raised the issue of decentralisation so many times since the then Minister, Mr. Charlie McCreevy, announced Newcastle West was a designated area and was due to get 50 staff from the Revenue Commissioners. I understand the staff have been recruited for quite some time. There was a little disappointment in Newcastle West because we thought the new staff would be trained there, but I understand the training is being carried out in Limerick. Several staff have asked me what has been happening because it is quite some time since the Minister's colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, had an official photocall to put up a sign outside the original county council offices stating that this site would be part of the decentralisation programme. He had an entourage of Progressive Democrats public representatives from throughout the county to help him put up the sign stating that this site was to be the location of the office but I pass that location frequently and I have not seen any construction activity. Will the Minister of State indicate when construction will commence and when it is likely that office will be opened?