Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Mar 1991

Vol. 405 No. 9

Written Answers. - Decentralisation Programme.

Dermot Ahern

Question:

74 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the decision by An Post not to decentralise part of their undertaking to Dundalk, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter with particular reference to the need to designate another Government Department to decentralise to Dundalk.

Minister for Finance (Mr. A. Reynolds):

First and foremost I would like to reiterate to the Deputy and to the House that the Government are fully committed to decentralisation to Dundalk.

The position in relation to An Post is that the company have run into financial difficulty and has drawn up proposals to return the company to profitability. These proposals provide, inter alia, for a reduction of 1,500 or 19 per cent, in the company's workforce. The company's recovery proposals will represent a major upheaval of work practices and organisational structure. If successful it will be a major step forward for An Post but that success is dependent on the simultaneous advancement of a number of complex, and in an industrial relations context, sensitive projects.

In the circumstances and having regard to the statutory commercial mandate of An Post, I understand that the company are not at this stage in a position to give a commitment to the transfer of any staff to Dundalk or to any other location for the foreseeable future.

Given the above I have recently requested the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications to approach Bord Telecom Éireann with a view to that organisation transferring staff to Dundalk.

The question of designating a Government Department to decentralise to Dundalk does not therefore arise at this point.