Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 3

Adjournment Debate. - Decentralisation Programme.

Mr. D. Moynihan:

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil don Cheann Comhairle as ucht cead a thabhairt dom an moladh seo a chur roimh an Teach anocht. Cork North West is a rural constituency which does not have the advantage of many industries. The Government has embarked on a decentralisation programme to rural towns, a programme which I endorse. Macroom is my local town which, together with Millstreet and other towns in my constituency, such as Kanturk, Newmarket and Charleville, should be considered for the decentralisation programme.

I draw particular attention to Macroom which lies at the heart of the beautiful Lee Valley on the national primary route, the N22, half way between Cork and Killarney. Macroom occupies a central position in County Cork. Within a 20 mile radius, one has Cork city, Ballincollig, Blarney, Mallow, Millstreet, Bandon, Dunmanway, Ballineen-Enniskeane, Clonakilty and numerous other villages. Macroom boasts the highest area of population in the county.

At the last census in 1996, the population of Macroom town was 2,674 and the number is growing rapidly. The decentralisation of a Government Department would help to serve the needs of people in the town, provide employment and commercially enhance the locality. It would also help to stop the depopulation of rural areas and halt rural decline.

Macroom is very dependent on one industry, a multinational electronic factory. A Government Department, together with increasing employ ment, would recognise and confirm the Government's commitment to the people of Macroom. Macroom boasts strong sporting and cultural traditions and has a variety of facilities to cater for recreational and social needs. There is an 18 hole golf course, a pitch and putt course, soccer and GAA pitches, a leisure centre and swimming pool and the Briery Gap complex which combines a theatre, cinema and library. Essential services such as schools, banks, shops and supermarkets are also available.

Macroom is located just 20 minutes from Cork city and 30 minutes from Cork airport, ferry port and rail station. A good bus service operates on the main Cork/Killarney Bus Éireann route spanning the tourist locations of Blarney, Killarney and Gougane Barra.

Macroom is experiencing large scale development and has the potential for further development. The provision of increased housing in the area will lead to an increase in population. The availability of development land is a positive factor in the context of a decision in favour of a greenfield development. In addition to a possible development location, some existing buildings are also available within the town, adjacent to a car park. There is urgent need for decentralisation of a Department to Macroom. This would be in keeping with regional labour market needs, serving the needs of the population and with the Government's commitment to regional equality.

I have shown that Macroom is the ideal location for such a development due to its central location in the south-western region, its proximity to all services, ancillary facilities and development opportunities. Decentralisation would create the conditions for substantial development economically, socially and culturally for future generations and would be in keeping with the main recommendations of the Government to cater for the needs of the people, both nationally and regionally, over the coming years.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Cullen):

I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this important issue. I recognise his deep interest in the issue of decentralisation. It cannot be often that a subject is discussed on the Adjournment of both Houses on the same day, but that is the case this evening. It is indicative of the level of interest which the forthcoming programme of decentralisation has generated that it should be discussed both in this House and in the Seanad tonight. The interest in the subject is not, however, confined to these Houses. To date in excess of 90 cities, towns and villages in every county have made their respective cases for inclusion in the new programme. In addition, the issue has been the subject of much recent media coverage.

I am an enthusiastic supporter of the principle of decentralisation. As one of the correspondents to my Department said, it is a win-win situation. The relocation of thousands of public servants from Dublin will serve to reduce congestion in our capital, ease house prices and save on the cost of office accommodation while promoting more balanced economic and social development throughout the country. I know that I am far from alone in this House in my support.

Many Deputies will have seen at firsthand the tremendous economic benefits which accrued to their own localities and communities. I am sure Deputy Moynihan is aware of the benefits which the relocation of public servants can bring to an area and I know that he has set out a very strong case for the relocation of a Department or office to north Cork. I assure him and all those who have made such impressive cases that all of them will be taken into account by the Government as part of the consultative process which my colleague, the Minister for Finance, has commenced.

This topic has obviously been the subject of previous Adjournment debates as well as regular parliamentary questions. It has been the practice to keep the House informed of the current state of the process and I want to maintain that practice. As Deputies are by now aware, my colleague, the Minister for Finance, has been engaged in a series of discussions with his Government colleagues with the intention that the Government will be in a position to take decisions on the new programme by the end of next month. In addition to these discussions, the Department of Finance has initiated a series of meetings with the staff unions involved and the Minister intends to meet those unions personally in advance of proposals being presented to Government. In response to concerns which have been expressed from time to time, I am happy to take this opportunity to confirm that, as with the previous programme, this forthcoming programme will be on a voluntary basis for individual public servants.

The Government's commitment to this process is undeniable and, as evidence of this, I repeat what I told the House last week when I repeated the recent assurance given by the Minister for Finance to the Committee on Finance and Public Service to the effect that the implementation of the programme will be given priority attention within the Department of Finance and that the programme will be pushed out vigorously. Proper co-ordination will be ensured between the various Departments which will have a central role in the delivery of the programme, the Departments of Finance and the Environment and Local Government as well as my office, the Office of Public Works.

In addition, I repeat my intention, as the Minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, to take a personal interest in the programme's efficient delivery. While I am conscious of the existing constraints in the construction industry, I am confident that with my office working closely with the industry, the programme will be delivered as efficiently and quickly as possible once decisions have been taken.

I said earlier that I am not alone in my support for decentralisation and I look forward to seeing the impact which the forthcoming programme will have. The current programme, which is coming to a conclusion, has seen almost 4,000 civil servants relocating from Dublin to almost 20 towns throughout the country. This policy of creating a more even spread of public sector jobs has, it is fair to say, been met with widespread satisfaction. This policy will be just one of many which will influence the Government in the determination of those centres to which Dublin-based offices are to be relocated.

Over recent months I and many of my colleagues have received numerous submissions from local authorities, chambers of commerce, community associations and so on from around the country, all of which put forward convincing cases as to why their respective town or village should be included in the forthcoming programme. I have been tremendously impressed with the quality of those submissions and I congratulate all those involved on the time and commitment which went into their efforts. Obviously not all will be successful on this occasion, but I have no doubt that many of those submissions will form the basis for selling those towns and villages to industrialists and tourists around the world. In their endeavours I wish them every success. It is well deserved.