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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 6

Priority Questions. - Decentralisation Programme.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

48 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance the number of people working in the Civil Service in Dublin; the numbers working outside Dublin; and the plans he has to relocate civil servants and Departments outside Dublin. [14948/03]

There are approximately 22,000 civil servants at present working in Dublin and approximately 14,000 are located outside Dublin.

The Government is committed to moving forward the progressive decentralisation of Government offices and agencies and this commitment was reiterated in An Agreed Programme for Government. As I have said previously, a wide range of important issues, including the National Spatial Strategy, must be considered before a final decision is taken on this matter. It is vital that all involved are consulted, be they staff concerned about their future or departmental management concerned about the delivery of the public services for which they have responsibility.

The Deputy will appreciate that the Government cannot announce its plans for the relocation of civil servants until a final decision is reached. Given the wide ranging considerations involved, it is not possible for me to state, at this time, when the Government will make that decision.

The Minister will be aware that I have followed this issue with great interest, going back at least to 1997.

Together with the other 165 Deputies and 60 Senators.

Like many of the other Deputies, I am still awaiting progress.

Can the Minister explain why in December 1999 he promised major decentralisation and why there has been no advance since? At that time the Minister stated that we would have a programme of decentralisation that would be more radical than all that had happened before. There is nothing radical about absolute inertia. Can the Minister say why in October 2000, within ten months of that commitment and in response to my oral and written parliamentary questions, he stated that the Government would be in a position to take decisions on the programme by the end of 2000? It is written in the Official Report of the House.

Will the Minister tell the House what happened between that time, that commitment given in October 2000 and November 2002, when he said for the first time what he has now repeated in response to my question? He stated that he could not say when the Government would take a decision. What happened in that period of time, from the time of the Minister's enthusiasm, his stated intent and his statement that it would be a radical move on his part which would facilitate the transfer of significant numbers to the order of 10,000 civil servants to new locations in different parts of the State?

When the Minister talks about spatial strategy will he recognise and confirm the strong case for Monaghan, a hub town? Is he in a position to confirm that it will be included in the list of those towns that will be welcome hosts for many of the civil servants and their families who will be deployed to the provinces?

It was perhaps an unfortunate phrase to use which included the word "radical". That inspired every town and city in Ireland to make very detailed presentations to me and my Department. They each made a very good case for their centre to be included in the planned programme of decentralisation. As I stated previously, more than 120 urban centres have made detailed submissions as to why their centres should be favoured above all other areas. I would have liked to progress the matter sooner but a great deal of consultation and work has been put into this area. I am sure Deputy Ó Caoláin has made a good case for the town he has mentioned and I am sure there are many reasons Departments should locate there just as there are good reasons for them to go to Counties, Laois, Offaly, Leitrim, Kildare, Galway and all the other places for which others have made a case.

I hope to be in a position to bring this matter to a conclusion. As I stated previously, there will be more places disappointed than pleased and that has led to some of the difficulties and has given rise to the delay over that period.

Deputy Richard Bruton referred erroneously to the Minister as Taoiseach. He is already acting like the Taoiseach because—

I thank the Deputy.

—his reply gave the House absolutely no information, did not address the question I put as to what exactly happened between October 2000 and November 2002. What happened shortly after that stated commitment of October 2000 when the Minister stated that by the end of that year, the programme for decentralisation would be ready for publication? Where did that go and why? What were the influences and pressures and why have they been maintained? We see no light at the end of the tunnel and the Minister is offering none today.

In the recent Private Members' Business debate on this issue, the Minister said he would not be drawn on a timescale for the implementation of the new programme. Will the Minister clarify that a timescale actually exists? Is it the case, as many of us suspect, that there is no timescale at all and that proposal, despite all the Minister's earlier signposted enthusiasm, does not appear on the agenda of this Government and if it appears at all, it is at the very bottom of the list?

The timescale is, as soon as possible and in the future. The Deputy asked about the delay and I have given the reasons. I point out to him that perhaps it is better to travel in hope than to arrive. I will pass on his compliments to the Taoiseach as to his influence on all members of the Government.

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