Vol. 516 No. 4
11 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the proposals, if any, he has for decentralisation of any part of his Department or any body or agency operating under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8200/00]
In keeping with the Government's commitment to a policy of balanced regional development with the channelling of public sector jobs into provincial areas being a key priority, I have decided that with the exception of a small Dublin office, the bulk of the Marine Institute comprising 60 staff will be relocated to Galway, which is purely coincidental. As well as contributing towards the Government's policy on decentralisation, this will facilitate the construction of the new national facility at Abbotstown.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, a number of areas of my Department have already been decentralised and there is a total of 155 staff currently based outside Dublin. The accounts branch with 13 staff members is located in Castlebar, County Mayo, and the Forest Service with a staff of 45 was decentralised to the sunny south east, Wexford, in 1998. In addition, my Department provides local services at a variety of locations, for example, the fishery harbours of Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Rosaveal and Killybegs and the Irish Coast Guard has rescue subcentres at Valentia Island, County Kerry and Malin Head, County Donegal.
The Department has more than 260 staff located in Dublin. The scope for further decentralisation of the Department's staff is at being assessed.
I am glad to hear that reply. Having read the statement of 10 February regarding the Marine Institute in Galway, I wonder does one have to be a Minister before decentralisation takes place to one's constituency? I ask that with no disrespect. If a constituency does not have a Minister, does it mean that decentralisation of Government Departments to that area will not take place? Does that apply to the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources?
That was in train long before the Minister came into office.
I will not respond to what Deputy McCormack said. It is wrong to suggest that having a Minister in the area is the only criteria by which one can benefit. Deputy Bell is in a happy position in that there is a very senior Minister in his constituency. Let me put it this way – I am sure it is a help.
The Minister of State forgot about the sunny south west.
Good times are coming.
The Minister, in his analysis, rightly pointed out the historical situation regarding Departments. The question, however, appertains to future devolution. I pointed out earlier that the strategic management initiative said too much was centralised in Dublin. Will the Minister of State take into consideration that some areas still need to be devolved to rural locations?
Some 260 staff are still located in Dublin. We are required by Government to prepare a document on the possibility of relocating more staff to centres in areas in which other Departments might not be located. We want to be close to the services and, since it is the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, the closer to the seashore the better. I assure Deputy Sheehan that the message coming back from the 46 or so people who have gone to Wexford is that it is so glorious that others might be tempted to go there.
Seeing as the Minister of State is in such a generous mood and is talking about the sunny south east, will he consider locating a section of the sea fishing sector in Castletownbere? Castletownbere is the major white fishing port in Ireland. I ask the Minister of State to consider locating a branch of that section of his Department in Castletownbere.
A very good point.
As I indicated earlier, a constituency does not necessarily have to have a Minister but the Deputy is in a happy position in that his constituency has one. I readily admit that Castletownbere is a port of which I am particularly proud. The people there do an excellent job in sometimes difficult conditions. As far as I am concerned, I would support the Deputy's notion.
We will follow up that.
