Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Decentralisation has brought great regional benefits to towns like Carrick-on-Shannon, Longford, Castlerea, to which the Prison Service decentralised a prison facility, Sligo, Letterkenny and Cavan. They have all benefitted greatly. The point made by the Minister of State, Deputy Boxer Moran, was that with the great difficulty concerning office space in Dublin and accommodation, there is great potential in the further decentralisation of sections of Departments. We have adequate space in Roscommon to bring about a further decentralisation. I recommend strongly that this be given careful consideration. In the Land Registry offices recently I met an individual who was all the way from Ennis, County Clare, who had come to Roscommon to check on his registration. The office is providing a tremendous service there for the public.

On the issue of decentralisation, there is a lot to be said for a review of the checking-in system which obtains in the Dáil and the Seanad. Some people are better off being engaged on their computer and registering the fact that they are active working certain days in their offices, the credit for which Members should be allowed.Sometimes it is a question of the use of space and technology. We should be the first to use technology to improve the situation here in Leinster House which in relation to climate alone, would save a good deal of emissions from diesel and petrol. Will the Leader arrange a discussion on this with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, to see where exactly he is going. There is space. I am sure my colleagues from Roscommon loved decentralisation but none of them ever supported it.