I thank Senator O'Shea for the information he has given us about Waterford Airport and other local problems and I am sure he will be quite capable of pursuing those issues with the appropriate Ministers. For the purpose of my contribution here tonight, I will reply to the terms of the motion on the Adjournment which deals with decentralisation.
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to talk in this House about the Government's decentralisation programme. It is just one of a series of progressive developmental measures undertaken by us in Government, and one which I am confident will have considerable social and economic benefits throughout the country.
Fianna Fáil recognised, as far back as the later seventies, the pressing need to promote a more balanced development between the eastern region with Dublin as its hub and the rest of the country. It was obvious then that the concentration of population and economic activity at the centre was to the detriment of both the metropolitan area and the regions. It was placing a huge burden on the capital city while contributing to the problems of regional disadvantage.
In 1980 we initiated a comprehensive programme covering the relocation of over 3,000 public servants to 12 provincial centres — regrettably we were not in a position to see that implemented. However, while in Opposition we did not lose sight of our original objective and continued to pursue the issue as the opportunity arose in Dáil Éireann. It is a pity that the Senator's party did not agree with our intentions at that time and over the last five years. We continued to recognise the self-evident desire of many public servants to retain links with their provincial roots.
In this modern age of advanced communications and computers there are no prohibitive logistical reasons for those administering many Government services having to be located in Dublin. We have invested massively in our telephone system, it is now one of the more modern in Europe and computers function equally well in Galway, Sligo, Waterford or any other provincial centre as in Dublin.
The drain of young people to jobs in Dublin has several undesirable consequences. First, it leads to an eventual demand for housing, education, and infrastructural services in Dublin at a high cost both to the public authorities and to the individuals themselves. At the same time many of these services are being under-utilised in provincial towns. Housing for example is noticeably cheaper and many would claim the quality of life there is better.
One of the most important factors of all is perhaps less tangible — migration deprives provincial areas of the vigour and leadership talent of those who must unfortunately pack their bags on a Sunday evening for the week's work in Dublin.
It was with the foregoing consideration that decentralisation was included in Fianna Fáil's Programme for National Recovery and was vigorously pursued on attaining office. To reactivate the programme as speedily as possible, a limited number of centres — those for which planning had already been substantially completed in 1980 and which could commence without undue delay — were selected. In recognition of the more restrictive financial circumstances now in operation it was decided to invite private sector participation rather than fund the programme directly from the Exchequer. It is intended that the State will rent the premises with an option to purchase at a future date.
It is prudent in recognition of the revised funding arrangements that some experience of its operation be gained before further commitments are made. The Office of Public Works have selected the firms who are being asked to tender for the provision of the accommodation required at the four centres which have been chosen. Tender documents will be issued to these firms tomorrow. Once we have settled the finer details in relation to these four centres, the Government will be in a better position to consider when the programme should be expanded to include further centres. I sympathise fully with the Senator's wish to see other areas benefiting from this measure, but I hope he will understand the need to proceed in an orderly and planned manner.
I would hope that the Government's initial moves towards decentralisation will be developed in due course, prudently and creatively, so that we can achieve a balanced expansion in all the regions of our country. This is in line with the Government's belief that local areas can be given a more direct and creative role in contributing to the process of national recovery.
I can say in conclusion, a Chathaoirligh, that we moved very fast in this programme because we recognised its importance. I have covered in fair detail what the Government have in mind, both for these four centres and for the possibility of further extensions.
The Seanad adjourned at 8.55 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 23 July 1987.
