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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 14 Mar 1978

Vol. 304 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Population Growth.

15.

asked the Minister for Economic Planning and Development whether he has a view on the rapid growth in the proportion of the population living within the Dublin county boundary, and whether, if his view of this development is unfavourable, he will formulate proposals for checking this growth and inducing more administrative and industrial decentralisation.

The answer to the first part of the question is yes, I certainly have a view which is that of very serious concern at the rapid growth in the proportion of our population living within the Dublin county boundary. Our policy in Government is that this tendency should be checked by providing conditions favourable for development in other regions and places to act as counter attractions to Dublin and thereby minimise population migration.

For this purpose, we require a comprehensive regional development policy, the last statement on which was that issued in 1972—by the then Fianna Fáil Government. In view of the changed economic and social circumstances now obtaining, I shall, given my statutory responsibilities for regional planning, be presenting to the Government a review of the 1972 statement along with policy proposals for future action in this area.

As regards the decentralisation measures mentioned in the second part of the Deputy's question, it would, I feel, pending the review, be premature at this stage to comment on these except to assure him that they will be fully considered and assessed in the review which I intend to be as comprehensive as possible.

If we take it that the Government's policy is in favour of decentralisation, in so far as any new appointments in the public service outside Dublin could be created, will the Minister state that the Government would be in favour of such a course?

I am not too clear about the Deputy's question. Certainly the Government favour decentralisation. It has always been part of our policy and some of the moves that have taken place were initiated by a Fianna Fáil Government. Any proposals for decentralisation will be favourably considered.

How does the Minister accept as part of this policy the move to change the procedure, for instance, under the Bill dealing with ground rents to centralise the administration of that scheme in Dublin as opposed to the original scheme which was to have it administered throughout the counties?

I do not think the point the Deputy is making is relevant in regard to the overall policy of the Government in regard to decentralisation. With regard to the Bill he mentioned, the best method decided upon by the Government of implementing changes necessitated operating it centrally, through the Land Registry in Dublin. It was not possible to provide for decentralisation in that area arising out of changes introduced by that Bill.

Does the Minister accept that in the administration of the Bill it is proposed to employ an extra 60 persons? If it is the policy of the Government to decentralise, surely they should be more favourably disposed to employing those people in counties throughout the country rather than in Dublin?

On any occasion when the Government consider it suitable and worth while to decentralise they will do so. There are situations where that opinion would not hold and the case mentioned by the Deputy may be such a case.

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