The question of decentralisation is extremely vexed and has become a festering sore. While l am disappointed that the Minister is not present to respond to this debate, I have some sense of satisfaction that the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, is present. The Minister of State promised the delivery of decentralisation during the course of a by-election in south Tipperary in June 2001.
Adjournment Debate. - Decentralisation Programme.
That is not correct. I never did that.
The Minister of State made that promise. Since the Government came to power in 1997, various promises have been made, including during the 2000 and 2001 by-elections in south Tipperary and again last year. Announcements have been made for the past six years but each delivery date has been allowed to pass. The issue of decentralisation appears to have been forgotten, deliberately I imagine.
The case for decentralisation, not just for towns in south Tipperary but also for other towns and in terms of the benefits it would have for Dublin, has long since been made. South Tipperary has not benefited from decentralisation, despite that 5,000 jobs have already been decentralised and that it is proposed to decentralise a further 10,000. South Tipperary is the only area in Munster without a decentralised Department.
There are two towns in south Tipperary, Tipperary town and Carrick-on-Suir, which are crying out for decentralisation. Both have RAPID status due to the fact that they are two of the most deprived towns in the country. There have been successive company closures in both towns. In Carrick-on-Suir, Irish Leathers and, more recently, Schiesser International have closed, while in Tipperary town, Tambrands, Kiely's, 7-Up and, more recently, Pall Ireland Limited have closed. Both towns have done trojan work on a voluntary basis, and major financial contributions have been collected for local projects to raise their profiles and make them attractive in terms of decentralisation. There are full educational facilities in both towns and there is easy access to third level education, sporting facilities, etc.
Decentralisation of Departments out of Dublin would be of benefit because the city is already overdeveloped. It would also ease the position vis-à-vis the high price of houses, traffic congestion and the difficulties people experience in travelling to work.
As already stated, the case for decentralisation has been well made. I hope that the Minister of State will have something tangible to say and will not merely repeat the reply to a parliamentary question I tabled on 6 November, which went as follows:
The Government remains firmly committed to moving forward the progressive decentralisation of Government offices and agencies. As I have said on many occasions, the process of reaching a decision on such a major initiative requires careful consideration of a wide range of important issues. This deliberative process is ongoing and I am not able to state at this time when the Government will be in a position to take a final decision on the matter. The Deputy will appreciate that pending such a decision, I am not in a position to say when the decentralisation programme will start or how long it will take to implement. However, the Deputy may be assured that the submissions and representations which have been made will be taken into account as part of the deliberative process
I hope the reply to this debate will not be a rehash of that supplied on 6 November and that we will be given some definite answers in respect of decentralisation. If the Government has abandoned decentralisation, perhaps the Minister of State will indicate that fact.
I make this reply on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, and I fear that the reply may disappoint the Deputy. However, I assure him that the Government is fully committed to decentralisation and that it remains an element of settled policy. I appreciate the keen interest in decentralisation, both inside and outside the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Government's commitment to introducing a new programme of decentralisation has been copper-fastened by its inclusion in An Agreed Programme for Government. The matter of decentralisation is identified and agreed upon in the programme for Government—
Like the 2,000 additional gardaí and the 200,000 medical cards.
—and, therefore, is a priority of the Government which, as the Deputy is well aware, has a term of office within which to fulfil its mandate and complete its undertakings.
We have undertaken to move forward the progressive decentralisation of Government offices and agencies. The commitment in the programme for Government requires us to take into account the national spatial strategy, which is aimed at ensuring that all regions develop to their potential.
It has been clear from the outset, and something that I know the Minister for Finance has reiterated in this House on many occasions in reply to parliamentary questions, that there is a wide range of important issues which must be taken into consideration before arriving at a decision. As the Minister has frequently made clear, it cannot be as simple as identifying a set of criteria on the basis of which all decisions relating to a new programme of decentralisation can be taken.
As with the previous programme of decentralisation, which made such a significant contribution to so many communities throughout the country, a new programme of decentralisation has the potential to act as a tremendous economic catalyst, with the Government leading the way and proving the capability of delivering public services effectively from locations outside Dublin. One would hope that the private sector would follow the public sector as it reduces its dependence on locating in the capital city. We would then begin to see increased evidence of balanced regional development, something which is not only desirable but essential.
I agree with the Deputy that it would have been preferable if a decision on a new programme could have been made sooner but, given the level of interest in the issue and the many and varied matters involved, it has taken longer than had been originally anticipated. In light of its importance, complexity and great significance, I trust the Deputy will agree that it has been appropriate for the Government to afford this matter a high level of consideration before reaching a final decision.
As Deputies will be aware, more than 130 urban centres have expressed interest in being part of the new programme. In that regard, the case for the inclusion of south Tipperary has been well articulated. I again assure the Deputy and other Members that all the submissions and representations on behalf of all towns received by the Department of Finance will be given full consideration as part of the decision-making process.
The Government is determined that, as with the previous programme, a new programme should have regard to the desire to promote regional development, economic growth and the creation of a more even spread of public service jobs. It is equally concerned to ensure that decentralisation should not compromise the efficient delivery of public services.
Decentralisation is, as much as anything else, a quality of life issue. People are increasingly undertaking longer commutes to get to and from work. In the longer term, this is not sustainable. Decentralisation offers the opportunity to do something about this by bringing work and home closer together.
I reiterate that the Government is seriously committed to developing a coherent and comprehensive programme. I thank Deputy Healy for raising this important issue, thereby giving me the opportunity to restate the Government's position.