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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 5

Other Questions. - Decentralisation Programme.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

8 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date by his Department regarding decentralisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18321/01]

The Deputy will be aware that, in the context of the White Paper on Defence, the Government decided to decentralise the Civil Defence branch of my Department to Roscrea, County Tipperary. The Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the provision of official accommodation for Departments, is currently in discussions with the owners of a building in Roscrea. These discussions are ongoing.

It was also decided that two sections of Defence Forces headquarters, the directorate of training and the directorate of reserve forces, will be relocated from Dublin to Kickham Barracks, Clonmel, County Tipperary. Building refurbishment work, which is required to facilitate relocation, is currently being arranged.

Does the Minister envisage further decentralisation by the Department of Defence, given the major problems many employees of the Department have gaining access to the city, especially those from south Kildare and County Meath, because of the heavy traffic on the N7 and N4?

Further proposals for decentralisation will come up for consideration by the Government later this year. No decisions have been taken yet. The need for further decentralisation is obvious but it will be some time before any decisions are taken. Consideration will be given across a range of Departments to see to what extent further decentralisation can take place.

In an earlier reply the Minister mentioned that there were 6,500 acres in the Glen of Imaal and that most military training took place there. I accept there are few physical boundaries in the computer age but does he not agree it is somewhat unusual to move the training section to Clonmel when the training takes place in Wicklow? Will he examine the feasibility of decentralising a section of the Defence Forces to the Glen of Imaal where there are vast physical resources?

It is the first time anybody has made that suggestion. It is probably no accident that it is made by a Deputy from that constituency. Consideration of the broader matter has yet to come to fruition but should definitely come before the Government before the end of the year.

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