Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator White for sharing her time. She has made a very big contribution to Irish business development in general and her valued contributions in this House are worth hearing. I compliment the Minister for Finance on implementing, at long last, the proposal to decentralise the Civil Service from Dublin to regional areas. I wish to express the appreciation of the people of County Clare and, particularly, Kilrush, for which a very good case was made in recent years for the establishment of a Government office there. I welcome the decision which has now been made to decentralise part of the Revenue offices to Kilrush.

As part of that scheme, there was a joint arrangement with Newcastlewest, County Limerick and Listowel, County Kerry. I am glad those three towns will benefit from reorganisation of the Revenue section of the Department of Finance. Decentralisation becomes very attractive where it involves a substantial block of civil servants moving to a particular geographical location. The availability of the Killimer ferry service will be an attractive feature for Revenue people moving to Kilrush, Listowel and Newcastlewest. I urge the Minister to expedite this move and I am glad he has put an implementation team in place. Contrary to an earlier statement in this debate, a deadline for implementation has been set, with an implementation team to report to a Cabinet sub-committee by next March. Furthermore, the Minister has provided an up-front capital contribution of €20 million to kick-start this scheme and ensure it will be put in place.

I also compliment the Minister on his provision for the Shannon region, which has been identified as the location to which 100 Irish Aviation Authority personnel will move from Dublin. That authority has already made a very significant contribution to the development of Shannon Airport and the surrounding region. This move will represent further consolidation of the aviation authority's position in Shannon and a substantial contribution to the development of the Shannon and mid-west region. The relocation of 300 personnel from Enterprise Ireland to Shannon Airport is also very opportune. Since 1959, Shannon Airport and Shannon Development Company have been the main economic engine for development in the mid-west region. They have made a very valuable contribution to the overall economic development and prosperity of that region, which will be further enhanced by the relocation of part of Enterprise Ireland. The consequent economic benefits will extend throughout the whole mid-west region, as well as in the immediate Shannon area.