Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

In his budget speech of 3 December 2003, the Minister for Finance announced the Government's decision to relocate more than 10,000 civil and public service jobs to 53 centres. Included in that announcement was the decentralisation of 50 posts in the Office of the Revenue Commissioners to Newcastle West. The inclusion of Newcastle West along with Kilrush and Listowel will complement the already very strong Revenue presence in the mid-west region and will further the cluster which has worked so successfully and is now being emulated by other decentralised Departments in different parts of the country.

Fifty posts are being decentralised to each of the three towns and these will add to more than 900 posts decentralised between 1992 and 1996, 550 in Limerick, 200 in Nenagh and 150 in Ennis. The clustering of the newly decentralised Revenue posts provides opportunities for the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, civil and public servants and local communities.

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they propose to take the opportunity provided by decentralisation to consolidate and relocate further functions within the mid-west region. For example, it is planned that all the Collector General's debt management functions currently in Dublin, apart from a small number of staff retained for insolvency work, will be decentralised to the region. This will cluster the debt management expertise of the Collector General's office in its headquarters in Limerick and its offices in the towns of Nenagh, Kilrush, Listowel and Newcastle West.

The relocation of 150 posts to three proximate towns, close to the existing presence of more than 900 Revenue staff, will be of immense benefit to the civil and public servants concerned. The units are large enough to provide opportunities for career development in each of the new locations, while the proximity of the new and existing Revenue locations will increase opportunities for regional promotion, training and development and mobility.

With reduced commuting times and, consequently, more time to spend with families and friends, staff can also look forward to an improved quality of life. The local communities will also benefit economically and socially and the moves will help to redress the regional imbalance in public sector jobs. The towns and their surrounding areas will benefit economically from the spending power of these new jobs and the participation of the new staff and their families in community life. The latter will range from additional pupils in schools to participation in local community sports clubs, cultural and community groups and other activities.

As Senators will be aware, the Revenue Commissioners have previously decentralised very successfully, notwithstanding the many concerns expressed at that time about the risks involved. The previous decentralisation involved the relocation of most of the tax collection and debt management division of the Revenue Commissioners. The moves took place smoothly with no disruption to service or Exchequer receipts.

The Revenue Commissioners are preparing their own decentralisation implementation plan, including the move to Newcastle West, for submission to the decentralisation implementation group. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they are encouraged by the level of interest expressed in decentralisation from Revenue staff in general, and in Newcastle West in particular. It is hoped that this level of interest will be reflected in the outcome of the central applications facility, launched on 12 May 2004. An analysis of the initial applications will be available to the Government's decentralisation implementation group in July and the outcome of the central applications facility will inform the decision on the decentralisation of Revenue posts to Newcastle West.

The Office of Public Works received a number of proposals for property in Newcastle West in response to an advertisement. These proposals are being evaluated and a decision will be made shortly on the most suitable site. The OPW does not envisage difficulties in obtaining suitable property in Newcastle West.

I have every confidence that the Revenue Commissioners commitment to the current decentralisation programme will lead to a smooth relocation and successful outcome, again, on this occasion. The decentralisation of 50 Revenue posts to Newcastle West will happen and will bring benefits to all concerned, not least the community of Newcastle West.