Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will report on the work of the decentralisation implementation group; when it last met with the Minister of State; when it last reported on its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10239/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Decentralisation Implementation Group submitted its most recent report to me in September 2006. This report was approved by Government and published in early October last. I met with the Chair of the Implementation Group prior to this to receive an update in relation to the progress being made in the implementation of the programme and the issues arising in the implementation of the programme.

The Group is satisfied with the level of planning in each of the Departments, and is confident that the senior civil service are leading the implementation of this programme in a professional and carefully planned manner. Having already met with a number of Secretaries General, the Decentralisation Implementation Group is currently meeting with some of the Chief Executives of State Agencies to discuss their Implementation Plans, the planning framework in place, to assess progress to date and to hear about the challenges arising and steps proposed by the agencies to address them.

My colleague, the Minister of State, has not met with the Group.