Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 5

Adjournment Debate. - Decentralisation Programme.

Mr. Healy:

When will the Government announce the decentralisation programme for south Tipperary, or has it any intention of announcing such a decentralisation programme? We have waited too long for this announcement and various promises have been made. In the 2000 by-election we were told a decision would be made by September 2000. Later in September, the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Davern, went on local radio, Tipp FM, and said that the decentralisation programme would be announced before Christmas 2000. In the 2001 by-election, the Fianna Fáil director of elections, Deputy Brian Lenihan, said that the programme would be announced by September of this year. Nothing happened following those announcements and the Minister of State, Deputy Cullen, was reported in the media in early September this year as saying that an announcement would be made within a few weeks.

When will this announcement be made? We have had enough promises and we need action now. South Tipperary has an unanswerable case for decentralisation. It is the only county in Munster without a decentralised Department and there is not a single decentralised job in the county. On the basis of the previous two rounds of decentralisation and the proposed decentralisation, the county would be entitled to approximately 750 decentralised jobs.

South Tipperary cannot wait any longer for decentralisation, in particular the towns of Carrick-on-Suir and Tipperary town. Those towns have inordinate levels of unemployment, running at something like 12%, which is three times the national average. The lifeblood of those towns, young people, are leaving and are not returning. A total of 94% of young people leave both Carrick-on-Suir and Tipperary town either for education or employment, and do not return. Recent studies on deprivation show that approximately 50% of the population of south Tipperary live in designated deprived areas.

This is especially the case in the two district electoral divisions, in Carrick-on-Suir and Tipperary town. They are classed in the lowest grades four and five in that survey.

The county has been in the lower part of the county prosperity league. Up to 2000 it was placed seventh lowest in the league but in 2001 it dropped to fifth from the bottom. On that basis decentralisation is vitally important.

The electricity infrastructure in the county is totally inadequate. The norm is a facility of 220kv but nowhere in the county is it available. Only Clonmel has a 120kv facility.

The county is in the south-east region, the lowest by way of development, even though other regions such as the BMW region, are allocated substantial investment and grants and EU development aid. The south-east is considerably worse off.

I ask the Minister to give a specific undertaking with a specific time scale that the long promised decentralisation for south Tipperary will be announced in the House tonight. Numerous promises have been made and all the deadlines have passed. Since the Government took office over four years ago local and national politicians in the Fianna Fáil Party have whispered throughout south Tipperary that decentralisation was on the way. The Minister should announce such a programme tonight.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Cullen):

The issue of decentralisation is one which, I know well, is close to the hearts of many Members of this House and the fact that it should be raised so soon after the summer recess amply demonstrates that. As an advocate of decentralisation and one who has seen, at first hand, the benefits which it can bring to a local community and to those who have decentralised, I am particularly pleased to have the opportunity to once again address the issue here this evening.

The issue of city centre congestion in Dublin is one which is acutely familiar to all of us who, for reasons of work or pleasure, have to come into the city. The Government is committed to tackling the problem of congestion and is pursuing, on a number of fronts, various initiatives which will, in time, significantly improve the existing situation. I am convinced that decentralisation is one area where the Government can take a lead.

While the relocation of several thousand civil and public servants may not, in itself, have a dramatic effect on city centre congestion, it will demonstrate to other sectors of the economy how it is possible, indeed desirable, to conduct important business outside the capital. The Government has a responsibility to play its part and through the vehicle of decentralisation can play it very effectively.

In the context of a major programme of decentralisation, the issue of staff welfare is very much to the forefront of everybody's mind. The Minister has, in this regard, been very consistent in restating his commitment to the voluntary nature of decentralisation. It is a legitimate aspiration for anybody who wishes to do so to own their own home and I am only too well aware of the struggle being experienced by the many who feel that home ownership is beyond them in and around Dublin. Many public servants, and indeed thousands of Dublin based workers, are now involved in lengthy and very time consuming commutes to and from their homes. There is an increasing quality of life issue associated with travelling to work in the city and the prospect of being able to live in much greater proximity to the workplace should be a big factor in ensuring the success of a new programme.

As Deputies will be aware, the issue of decentralisation is one that has featured most regularly in parliamentary questions and in a number of Adjournment debates over the past year or so. There has also been considerable interest in both the national and local media. I am pleased to say that considerable progress has been made in developing proposals for a new programme, notwithstanding the volume of material received in the Department of Finance from various local authorities, chambers of commerce, community associations and so on. Much of this material has been of a very high quality and the arguments advancing the merits of so many centres throughout the country have been well made.

The Cabinet sub-committee on decentralisation, chaired by the Minister for Finance, has been considering the various aspects associated with a new and comprehensive programme and that work is continuing. There are important lessons to be learned from the previous experience of decentralisation and there is a clear determination that those lessons must not only be learned but applied. This Government will not be rushed into a premature decision on a new programme and considers it critical that any such decision be taken only having first considered all of the relevant issues, including the very many excellent submissions made.

Mr. Healy:

It has been promised three times over the last 12 months.

Mr. Cullen:

I know that in the course of the South Tipperary by-election campaign earlier this year the issue of decentralisation was central and I understand why this was the case. What will not do here is to do what the Government was under pressure to do then and announce that south Tipperary will be a definitive part of the new programme.

Mr. Healy:

Will it be announced before the general election?

Mr. Cullen:

The Government is committed to developing a coherent and comprehensive programme and we do not intend to undermine that approach at this time by confirming that any one particular centre or region is to be included in the new programme. The case for the inclusion of south Tipperary has been well articulated and I am aware also that considerable work has gone into presenting the cases for the inclusion of such urban centres as Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Clonmel and Tipperary town. I pay tribute to all those involved for their efforts and all should be assured that they are much appreciated.

Mr. Healy:

Will the programme be announced before the next general election?

Mr. Cullen:

If the Deputy would listen he might learn something. Given the quality of the various submissions prepared, in this case in connection with decentralisation, I hope that they will find a continuing use to attract other investment, whether in terms of industry or tourism to their respective areas.

Many of my colleagues in this House have seen at first hand the benefits that decentralisation has made to so many local communities throughout the country. It is this kind of experience which makes me such an enthusiastic advocate of decentralisation. The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Deputy Davern, and Deputy Healy strongly support the case for the inclusion of south Tipperary in a new programme and the Deputy should be assured that the case has been well made and is one which will be fully considered in advance of a Government decision.

I thank Deputy Healy for again raising such a topical issue, one which I know is of so much interest both inside and outside this House.

Mr. Healy:

There will be no announcement before the general election.

Mr. Cullen:

I am especially pleased to have had the opportunity to restate the Government's position.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.45 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 11 October 2001.