asked the Minister for the Public Service the reason Tipperary South has not to date been successfully considered as a location for the decentralisation of sections of Departments under the Government's plan in the matter; and if he will give an undertaking to reverse this unsatisfactory policy.
Written Answers. - Decentralisation Programme.
609.
Following the announcement by the Government in October 1980 of the centres designated for the location of civil service offices, representations were made that other centres, including South Tipperary, be included in the programme.
Obviously, all the competing claims could not be satisfied. The Government's programme is aimed at distributing offices so as to achieve a broad geographical spread and benefit as many as possible of the less well-off regions. The centres were chosen after the most careful consideration by the Government bearing in mind the need to keep cost and the organisational problems involved in such a large-scale move within manageable limits.