Vol. 509 No. 4
195 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance his views on the decentralisation of State agencies to rural areas suffering severe difficulties in achieving external job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20393/99]
The current programme of decentralisation has yet to be completed and no decisions have yet been taken to extend it to any further centres. I have, however, been considering the many issues relevant to decentralisation policy for some time past and I expect to be in a position to discuss the matter with my colleagues in Government in due course. In selecting centres for decentralisation there are a number of important issues to be considered, not least of which is the economic benefit to be derived in a particular locality from the relocation of part of a Government Department/Office.
