Is the Minister aware of the Bannon Report which pointed out the need for office type jobs in the Waterford area? Would the Minister indicate the Government's intention in relation to decentralisation of some Departments down the country and say if he intends to designate Waterford as one of the centres?

I am aware of the Bannon Report to which the Deputy refers. With regard to the remaining part of the Deputy's question, namely, whether Waterford would be one of the eight centres as part of the initial group of centres associated with the Government's announced decision to decentralise at least 2,000 civil servants over the coming two to three years, no decisions have been taken yet on the choice of the eight centres. That will be done when the studies being made of the various regional characteristics have been completed.