Charlie McCreevy (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

This programme is, as much as anything else, about the promotion of balanced regional development. Why should those towns which have not been identified as hubs or gateways not share in that development? Do they not also have a convincing case for further prosperity? These questions, I suggest, answer themselves.

This programme is a statement of the Government's confidence in provincial Ireland. It will not by itself bring about the kind of regional development the Government considers desirable but what it should do is give a lead to the private sector. There is an unhealthy imbalance of investment in and around Dublin and it is difficult for us, as a Government, to consistently encourage development outside Dublin if we ourselves are not prepared to show leadership.

We have firmly demonstrated our commitment to the regions and now is the time for private investment to follow. All around the country we are seeing dramatic improvements in our physical infrastructure. I accept that there were infrastructural impediments to investment in some parts of the country in the past but the national development plan is delivering an infrastructure which will significantly overcome those impediments.

In a few years, the investment in the NDP should be paying off handsomely with a much greater distribution of investment throughout the country and the consequent social and economic benefits which will follow. Notwithstanding the economic and social benefits which decentralisation can bring to those towns included in the programme and their environs, as well as Dublin, this programme is very much about people. These are the civil and public servants who will either relocate to one of the 53 locations or will choose to remain in Dublin.

We have always acknowledged the people who work in our public service and they are central to the success of this programme. In formulating the principles of the programme, we therefore sought and received the views of all the Civil Service unions based on their past experience. Continuing the practice adopted in the past all moves will be on a voluntary basis and no removal expenses will be payable. There will be no redundancy or early retirement and those not willing to participate will be offered alternative public service jobs in the Dublin area.

With regard to the programme's implementation, we have already commenced consultations not only with the Civil Service unions, but also with all the public service unions concerned, to ensure the smooth operation of the programme. I hope that we can continue to work with them to make the relocation process as smooth as possible.

I assure staff that the recruitment and promotion structures which have served us all well over the years, will still continue to operate. What will have changed, and for the better, is that recruits and promotees from across the country will not be required to come to Dublin to secure either a position or promotion. The same level of promotions will continue to arise in the public service but they will be more fairly distributed across the country.

There are those who have suggested that the programme will impact fatally on the efficient delivery of public services, but I cannot accept this contention. Two of those Departments or offices which most closely interact with the citizens of this country are already heavily decentralised, namely the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. We have, of course, learned lessons from their prior experience and these lessons will be put to good effect.

However, the indisputable facts are that these organisations are providing, at the very least, as good a service from various provincial locations as they ever did in Dublin. The continued and, indeed, improved delivery of efficient public services is to the forefront of our minds and I am determined that nothing in this programme will in any way compromise the efficient delivery of public services.

The strategic management initiative can only be improved by relocating the headquarters of eight Departments and the Office of Public Works outside Dublin. This relocation will bring the business of Government far closer to the people.

For far too long, we have brought citizens to the work of Government but now is the time to reverse that practice. After all, we are talking about the public service, which serves people throughout the country and now it will operate among all the people.

The forthcoming decentralisation programme is a radical and ambitious one, which represents a win-win situation for all involved. For 53 towns and localities throughout the country there is the prospect of significant economic and social benefits. I hope the programme will serve as a catalyst for further economic benefit in provincial Ireland. It will make a modest contribution to reducing congestion in our capital. For staff who wish to work outside Dublin, we are providing a unique opportunity, not alone to work outside the capital but also to develop and pursue their careers outside the city. For those who wish to remain in Dublin, there will be ample opportunity to do so, as well as continuing to pursue their legitimate career aspirations there.

I would remind communities whose inhabitants may feel disappointed at not being included in this programme, that the Government has also decided that 500 health service posts — at a later stage in the restructuring of the health service — and approximately 830 IT posts, are also included. Furthermore, the Government has decided that, save in exceptional circumstances, all new public bodies should be located outside Dublin.

As I said in my budget speech, I am convinced that the total number of posts to be relocated should be closer to 12,000 — significantly more than that indicated on budget day.

I commend the motion to the House.