Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the fifth meeting of the Reconstruction Promotion Council at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on the current state and the problems of the reconstruction.

The Prime Minister said in his address,
"I instructed the Cabinet to put its utmost effort into the reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake two years before, as the top prioritized issue of the Cabinet.
At today's meeting, we first discussed the current state and the problems of the reconstruction of the disaster-stricken areas among the Cabinet members. Based on the discussion, I would like to give the following instructions.
The system and efforts should be strictly examined so that the Reconstruction Agency is able to fully exert its merit as a control tower, and be revised by thoroughly focusing on the actual site.
Especially, in order to bring about a breakthrough in the current situation of Fukushima, where the reconstruction and decontamination works are being implemented under vertical segmentation, it is necessary to establish a system for gathering the efforts of relevant ministries and agencies, under the leadership of the Minister for Reconstruction, who is also the Minister in charge of Comprehensive Policy Coordination for Revival from the Nuclear Accident at Fukushima.
In addition, as for the comprehensive promotion of plans for the reconstruction of Fukushima, a system should be established so that decision-making can occur at the actual site, by also involving the senior personnel of the Reconstruction Agency. That is, a system comprised of two headquarters in Tokyo and Fukushima, rather than the system where the Fukushima branch office is under the Tokyo headquarters.
In order to change the current situation where the strong hammering sound of reconstruction cannot yet be heard, and making the reconstruction visible, we must carry forth the reconstruction effort for the creation of a new Tohoku.
Consequently, we should cast aside anxiety regarding the budget by reviewing the cap on the reconstruction budget of 19 trillion yen in five years. At the same time, we will increase the strictness in narrowing down the use of the budget, so as not to arouse criticism such as that there is diversion of funds taking place.
As for the rebuilding of residences, the building of communities and helping people make a living, a roadmap and goals should be shown, while also specifying acceleration measures and strongly promoting them.
In doing so, we must listen earnestly to the criticisms and requests from the disaster-stricken areas on various systems and others, and take flexible measures.
I visited Fukushima Prefecture on December 29, immediately after taking office as Prime Minister.
I reaffirmed my thinking that I must respond to the requests of the people who wish to return to their homes as early as possible, but the schedule is not yet at all in sight.
Plans for early return and settlement should be prepared so that the disaster-stricken people can feel hope for the future.
As for specific efforts, measures that can support highly flexible efforts according to the actual situation of the region so as to promote early return should be realized as a part of economic countermeasures.
Also regarding the efforts to allow people to continue to live in Fukushima without anxiety, and ensuring the living bases for people who are forced to evacuate for a long period, we must take early measures that can fully respond to the voices of the disaster-stricken areas.
Slipshod decontamination work is something that betrays the trust of disaster-stricken people, and is unforgivable. We must compile countermeasures for examination and recurrence prevention by the end of next week, so that these problems will not occur.
In addition, regarding the decontamination, the government should unite its efforts under the comprehensive planning and promotion of the Minister for Reconstruction, who is also the Minister in charge of Comprehensive Policy Coordination for Revival from the Nuclear Accident at Fukushima.
Efforts for accelerating the reconstruction, including the items I have mentioned so far, should be compiled at an early stage by the Minister for Reconstruction, also under the cooperation of relevant Cabinet members.
I would also like to ask for research and discussions on the actual implementation of the reconstruction, by selecting personnel anew for the Reconstruction Promotion Committee.
Further, in order to promote efforts focusing on the actual site, I am thinking of visiting the disaster-stricken areas myself as soon as possible. Under the recognition that each and every member of the Cabinet is the "minister for reconstruction," I would like to ask for you to put utmost efforts into reconstruction towards the creation of a new Tohoku, with the Minister for Reconstruction taking the lead."