asked the Taoiseach if he has decided on the transfer of any Government Department to a centre outside Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transfer of Government Department.
The answer is in the negative. Every Government has expressed itself in sympathy, in principle, with the idea of decentralisation. When it comes to action, however, no Government has, so far, been able to overcome the formidable difficulties involved in the transfer elsewhere of offices and staffs now located in Dublin.
It seems to me that the only hope of effective action lies in aiming at the location in the provinces, as opportunities present themselves from time to time, of subordinate sections of Departments—particularly in the case of a new Department—or of any new statutory bodies that may be set up.
It must be remembered that, in the case of Departments of State, the availability of Ministers for meetings and consultation at any time is a prime necessity and that, therefore, a ministerial office and at least a small headquarters staff located in Dublin would seem to be inevitable in all cases.
Would the Taoiseach state whether it is final that the Department of the Gaeltacht will not be set up in Galway?
Máidir leis an Roinn sin, an mbeadh an Taoiseach sásta í a chur ar bun sa Ghaeltacht?
Níor chuaidh mé isteach sa scéal san ar fad. Tá an cheist sin fós faoi bhreithniú.
Ní dhéanfaidh an Taoiseach dearmad gur cuireadh an Roinn sin ar bun ar son na Fíor-Ghaeltachta?
Ní dhéanfaidh mé dearmad.