Joe Walsh (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this important matter and I express appreciation to the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, for coming into the House to address it.

The Government decided on a major decentralisation programme in the first week of December 2003. My concern is that since that time little enough in practical terms has happened in various locations around the country, particularly in Clonakilty where I live and Cork South-West, which I represent.

However, we have had a number of reports in the meantime. We had a report in March last year, a second report in July last year from the decentralisation implementation group and a further report in September last year which was an analysis of the application registered with the central applications facility. In addition, the decentralisation implementation group published a report on 24 November 2004 and I have been informed that the group will report again. We were to receive its report in spring this year but I understand it will be published shortly.

The Office of Public Works was given primary responsibility for delivering the property aspects of the decentralisation programme. Approximately 200 public and civil servants volunteered under the CAF system to decentralise to Clonakilty in west Cork. They have contacted me and other public representatives to know when they will be facilitated with office accommodation. They and their families made a decision that they will decentralise in some cases from Dublin and in other cases from other locations to west Cork. Members of their families are signing on for primary and secondary schools and applying to third level institutes. Therefore, these want to know when the accommodation will be available.

There is nobody twisting anybody's arm or pressurising or intimidating anybody. These are public and civil servants who have already volunteered to move to Clonakilty. When can we expect office accommodation will be available for civil and public servants who have volunteered to decentralise? When will work commence on the programme to provide those facilities in Clonakilty? I want to hear when that will happen.

I look forward to the Minister of State hopefully giving me good news on this matter.

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