Seanad debates

Wednesday, 21 May 2003

Decentralisation Programme: Statements.

 

10:30 am

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I join my colleagues in welcoming the Minister of State and his determination to proceed with decentralisation as outlined by the Government. I caution Senators opposite that when Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats in government make a decision to do something, they do so in a careful and calculated manner for many obvious reasons, of which I am sure Senators are aware.

Caution is important at this stage. Senator Daly identified the difficulty associated with the process of decentralisation, particularly around election time, because we are open to criticism that we are favouring a particular constituency, whereas if we wait, Senator Bannon and others demand that we decentralise offices of Departments to every town, village and crossroads. However, with a capable Minister and Minister of State, I have no doubt that approach will not prevail.

Decentralisation is critical to the main planks of Government policy, which recognise the need for balanced regional development with a national development plan – which we are midway through – and a national spatial strategy. If we are serious about these, it is incumbent upon us to ensure we have a proper process of decentralisation that will allow for those planks of Government policy to be implemented and the process set in train.

We live on a small island and, unfortunately, the concentration of population is on the east coast and growing, as is clear from surveys of growth of population, business and industry. If we are to be consistent about Government policy, there is a necessity to change this. An island with fantastic resources such as we have provides communities beyond the east coast, particularly along the west coast, with the opportunity to assist in providing a home for Government agencies and Departments. It is necessary to assist those who wish to move out of the cities and large towns on the east coast and provide them with the facilities, security and job and career prospects in their native areas, particularly in rural areas. All of this will assist with the major planks of Government policy already referred to. There are benefits for all in this approach, particularly for those who have the opportunity to return to their native areas and provide the resources to develop their communities. This also has the spin-off effect of assisting the alleviation of congestion in our cities.

Earlier today we had a debate with the Minister for Transport about the work he has done and intends to do on foot of the strategic rail review. That document recognises that the increased use of cars on the east coast provides a major challenge to traffic managers trying to sort out congestion problems. Decentralisation goes some way towards this by moving people away from congested areas.

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