asked the Taoiseach whether, in order to obviate delays and to secure efficiency in administration, the Government will consider the advisability of the decentralisation of such Departments as Local Government, Industry and Commerce, and Agriculture.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Decentralising Departments.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply I gave in this House to a question by Deputy C. Lehane on the 24th November last. On that occasion I pointed out that the decentralisation of Government administration is a matter in regard to which serious practical difficulties arise, but I added that the general object which Deputy Lehane had in mind was one with which the Government are in sympathy and that, as the occasion occurs, the question of taking practical steps will be considered.
Since then there has been no change in the Government's attitude to this question, but I would remind the Deputy that the transfer of the staffs of Departments of State from Dublin to other centres would raise important issues in regard to both office- and living-accommodation and would inevitably cause hardship to many individuals.
Whether, in fact, such decentralisation would tend to obviate delays and improve the efficiency of administration is a question that would require to be very carefully considered: at first sight, there appears to be some ground for thinking that it might have the contrary effect.