I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 18, 50 and 62 together.
Since announcing the Government's intention to proceed with a new decentralisation programme in my Budget Statement, I have more recently initiated a consultative process with my Government colleagues with a view to taking decisions on a significant programme of decentralisation by the summer. This process will involve the identification of suitable parts of Departments and Government offices and non-commercial State-sponsored bodies for decentralisation and the selection of those centres to which they will be relocated.
The selection of suitable centres to which Government offices will be relocated will depend on a number of criteria. It is not possible at this stage to provide an exhaustive and definitive list of such criteria other than to say that it will be influenced by the Government's desire to promote regional development and economic growth and to create a more even spread of public service jobs around the country. The Government will also be conscious of other issues which are likely to impact on the success of the programme. These could include issues such as proximity to third level institutions, convenient access to Dublin, the scale of particular offices being decentralised, availability of services, etc.
I am conscious also of the calls on me and other members of the Government to use the vehicle of decentralisation to address job losses in particular areas of the country and in that regard I note the point made about those towns which have failed to attract industry. In view of the process which is under way I would consider it unhelpful if I were to comment on the likelihood or otherwise of any particular location being included in the forthcoming programme, though I assure Deputies that all the proposals made for inclusion will be fully considered by the Government as part of this consultative process. Arising from the process on which the Government has now embarked we will, after the Government has taken the appropriate decisions, have a coherent approach which will allow us to progress expeditiously the most ambitious programme of decentralisation in the history of the State. Any decision relating to the decentralisation of part of any Department or office will be taken by the Government.