asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of great uneasiness among civil servants arising from the proposal for the removal to Castlebar of the Department of Lands and the removal to Athlone of the Department of Education; the date of the proposed transfer; what facilities will be available for the staffs of each Department by way of housing accommodation etc; if travel facilities are to be available for the civil servants involved; and if he will make a detailed statement on the matter.

28.

asked the Minister for Finance whether there are any plans under consideration for the decentralisation of Government Departments; and, if so, whether he proposes to have any consultations with staff organisations on the matter.

I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 27 and 28 together.

A statement of Government policy in regard to these matters will be made in the course of the next few days.

Can the Minister give an idea what housing accommodation, if any, will be made available for civil servants at Castlebar and Athlone, or is it proposed to provide them with free transport to and from these areas?

Perhaps the Deputy would wait for the statement.

Will it be soon?

Within the next few days.

Will any discussion have taken place with any staff associations before the statement is made?

Yes.

Discussions have taken place?

Yes.

Is everybody satisfied with the result of these discussions?

That would be a miracle.

Perhaps the question is too direct and too embarrassing for the Minister to answer. I have asked the Minister, for my own information, whether these discussions concluded on a satisfactory note, with expressions of satisfaction on all sides.

Any discussions which have taken place have been of a very tentative and preliminary nature.

All discussions are of a tentative nature.

I would ask Deputies to wait for the statement.

The Minister has seen some expressions of disquiet from staff organisations.

In view of the importance of the statement, will the Minister undertake to make the statement in the House and not outside at some dance or social function? This is the place to make the statement.

Not in Canada.

As this is a statement of great importance, will the Minister avail himself of the opportunity of making the statement to the House?

The Deputy is assuming that I shall be making the statement.

Whoever makes the statement, this is the place it should be made.

Will there be a final and firm decision in the statement to be released? I am concerned about this, because there is uneasiness among these Civil Service associations. The Minister says there have been tentative discussions. Is it proposed to have further discussions with the people involved?

Arrangements will be made for the most comprehensive and continuing consultations.

May I assume, therefore, this will be a preliminary statement indicating the objectives with regard to the transfer of these staffs?

If I am to tell you now what is in the statement, what is the point of making the statement in a few days?

May we take it we shall not follow the precedent set by a former Taoiseach of making the statement in Canada?

Will the Minister undertake in regard to any statement issued that it will not be like the statement issued after the meeting with General de Gaulle where he thought one thing and we thought another?