Billy Timmins
Ceist:88 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Defence when the Civil Defence will relocate to Roscrea, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9046/00]
Priority Questions. - Decentralisation Programme.
In the context of the White Paper on Defence, the Government decided to decentralise the Civil Defence branch of my Department to Roscrea, County Tipperary. The relocation will take place as soon as the practical arrangements can be put in place.
The decision to relocate the Civil Defence to Roscrea could sound the death knell for the organisation. I recall saying that this move was "not too bad" during the previous Question Time to the Minister for Defence and I am sure the Minister will throw that comment back at me. However, on closer analysis—
The Deputy should put a question to the Minister.
Who is responsible for the Civil Defence? It is normal for the Minister for Defence to delegate this responsibility to the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach. Has the Minister done that or does he retain responsibility for the Civil Defence? Who made the decision to relocate to Roscrea and on what grounds was Roscrea chosen? Some 46 submissions were received during the compilation of the White Paper, 13 of which related directly to the Civil Defence. Did any of those submissions indicate that it would be desirable for the Civil Defence headquarters to be moved from Dublin to Roscrea? I understand that up to 30 people work in the headquarters and that this dedicated group of people has built up a certain rapport with voluntary organisations throughout the country. Does the Minister agree it is unlikely that any of these people will seek relocation to Roscrea and that, in effect, the organisation will have to be disbanded and reconstituted? How, on a Friday evening, will volunteers who traditionally take the train to the headquarters in Dublin for weekend courses get to Roscrea? Perhaps the Minister will address these questions in the context of the national development plan.
I would not profess to lecture Deputy Timmins on geography. However, he will be aware that Roscrea is far more central to most areas of the country than Dublin. There are train and bus services to Roscrea, just as there are to Dublin. My Department has been inundated with applications from civil servants to transfer to the country. Substantially more civil servants than necessary, of all grades, have applied for transfer to Roscrea. I will not allow Deputy Timmins to denigrate my home town in this House.
The previous Government clearly spelled out that there would be no further decentralisation. This Government is taking a different approach. Deputy Timmins has to worry not only about the transfer of the Civil Defence to Roscrea but about later announcements of decentralisation which will be considerably more substantial.
It is all about votes.
I hope Fine Gael will not fight against that.
I thank the Minister for his reply. It is not my intention to denigrate Roscrea. I have fond memories of trying to hitch from there on a sunny Sunday afternoon several years ago because there was no other way to get home.
How did the Deputy get in?
I was parachuted in, similar to the Minister. How many of the staff at Civil Defence headquarters have indicated they wish to transfer to Roscrea? The Minister said the number is large.
It is not substantial at this stage. I do not know what the figure will be when staff have the opportunity to see the accommodation, facilities and the other attractive elements involved. We will await that and I am certain a large number will be interested. If the Deputy is indicating that it is not possible for a civil servant in a different Department to transfer and do a good job, he is underestimating the capacity of the Civil Service.