Olwyn Enright
Question:18 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Finance the timescale involved in the decentralisation process; when it will start; the length of time it will take to complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30050/03]
Written Answers. - Decentralisation Programme.
Jan O'Sullivan
Question:43 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the Government's proposed decentralisation programme; when the programme will begin; the proposed timeframe for the completion of the programme; the consultation there has been with public service unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30098/03]
Denis Naughten
Question:50 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Finance his plans for decentralisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29991/03]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:54 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance when the decentralisation proposals which he announced in his budget 2004 speech will become fully effective and operational; if the financial provisions outlined will be sufficient to meet the necessary requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30160/03]
Ciarán Cuffe
Question:64 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Finance the costs identified to date in relocating Departments in his Department's proposed decentralisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30070/03]
Olivia Mitchell
Question:71 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the estimate of the cost of acquiring property for decentralisation; and the proportion of the investment which will be in the designated hubs and gateways outlined in the spatial strategy. [30158/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 43, 50, 54, 64 and 71 together.
I refer Deputies to the summary of budget 2004 measures which sets out the locations and Departments-agencies covered by the new decentralisation programme.
I am determined that action be taken immediately to start implementing the programme. I have already appointed an implementation committee to drive the process forward and a joint Department of Finance-OPW unit is being established to support it and to liaise with Departments. The committee has been asked to provide a detailed implementation plan by the end of March 2004.
The chairman of the committee will report to the Cabinet sub-committee on decentralisation, which comprises the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Minister for Finance and Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Furthermore, every Minister is expected to take responsibility for that part of the programme which relates to his-her Department, including the agencies which come within his-her remit.
To ensure the programme can proceed without delay, I have provided an additional €20 million in my Department's Vote to meet any upfront investment required in 2004. Any capital funding requirements for future years will be dealt with within the overall five year capital allocation framework which I announced on budget day.
Rented office space in the Dublin area is, in general, significantly more expensive than that available in areas outside the capital. It may take some time to transfer leases to new lessees, where lease breaks can not be availed of, but it is reasonable to expect that after a short number of years the leasehold costs of new buildings will be no greater than that on existing buildings. In the case of existing accommodation in Dublin which is owned by the State, the combined site and building values can be expected to generate significant funds to remunerate the cost of alternative accommodation in the regions.
Accordingly, I consider that by vacating existing leased or State-owned property the costs of new accommodation in the regions can be minimised. The overall objective will be to ensure that property being acquired at regional level is matched over time in cost terms by disposal of property currently held in the Dublin region, whether held on lease or otherwise.
I also believe that the programme offers an opportunity to develop an innovative approach to the property acquisition and disposal issues involving maximum private sector involvement. This could, for example, involve tendering for offers from the private sector for the provision of decentralised accommodation on a design, build, fit-out and finance basis in return for the surrender to the successful bidder of appropriate Government property in Dublin on completion of the transfer.
As regards other costs, the programme will operate on a voluntary basis and there will, therefore, be no question of paying removal-relocation expenses or redundancy payments. Some additional costs are likely to arise under headings such as travel and subsistence, staff training and technology. However, the decentralisation programme can also be expected to generate cost savings in terms of reduced absenteeism, reduced staff turnover and generally greater productivity. The wider economic benefits, particularly in terms of better use of regional infrastructure and reduced demand on infrastructure in Dublin, also need to be taken into account.
Clearly, it is not possible at this stage to say what proportion of the investment will be in the designated gateways and hubs outlined in the national spatial strategy. However, some 2,650 jobs of the 9,000 jobs in respect of which decisions have already been made are moving to such gateways and hubs and, virtually all of the locations included in the programme are mentioned in section 4 of the spatial strategy which outlines how each region will participate in the strategy. I should point out that there are already approximately 12,000 civil servants working outside Dublin, excluding Prison Service staff; most of them work in what would be generally termed local offices but about 4,800 would be regarded as working in existing decentralised offices.
There was extensive consultation with staff unions shortly after the original announcement in 1999 and the existing partnership structures within each Department-agency will now deal with any implementation related issues which are specific to that Department-agency. Any public service wide issues will be addressed under the auspices of the public service monitoring group provided for in Sustaining Progress.