asked the Minister for Finance the present position of his Department's plan announced two years ago to decentralise a Government Department to Dundalk, County Louth; if a location or site has been chosen in Dundalk; and the Department which is to be decentralised.
Written Answers. - Decentralisation of Government Department.
48.
The Government, by a decision of 27 March, relaunched the programme to decentralise the Civil Service. The programme will adhere to those centres, including Dundalk, that were originally chosen for decentralised offices in October 1980.
As regards Dundalk, a site has not yet been selected for the offices. The Office of Public Works are at present assessing the suitability of sites put forward by the local authority. Under the original 1980 programme, sections from the former Department of Posts and Telegraphs had been designated for decentralising to Dundalk. The establishment since then of two State-sponsored bodies. An Post and Telecom Éireann, whose activities previously had formed part of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, has necessitated a reassessment of the situation.
These matters are being pursued actively and I would hope to be able to announce positive developments in the first half of next year.