Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I asked about the status of the decentralisation programme for Newcastle-West in an Adjournment debate in the House on 26 May. For many years, I have sought decentralisation to Newcastle West and assisted in the submission. Therefore, I was very pleased to see it coming to fruition at last with a commitment not alone for Newcastle-West but also for Kilrush and Listowel with the provision of 150 jobs in the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. Along with my rural colleagues and others, I am delighted that decentralisation will now occur.

The scale of the project announced in the budget on 3 December last surprised many people. In many cases, people did not talk about the budget or make comparisons with other budgets in respect of financial matters because the sheer scale of the decentralisation announcement deflected attention from it so that it became the main focus of interest and discussion. The Minister of State enthusiastically greeted the decentralisation programme in his own county and the banners were out in jig-time welcoming decentralisation to various parts of Counties Laois and Offaly.

That is the political dimension, but what people want to see now is the sequence for the evolving nature of the decentralisation process around the country. In Newcastle West, where 50 posts are being decentralised to Revenue, there is already a great success story of decentralisation there. Between Nenagh, Limerick and Ennis 900 jobs have been decentralised and the area has been extended further to include Newcastle West, Kilrush and Listowel. Within that mesh of activities there will be certain promotional opportunities. If there is a scale of 50 jobs, that level will be achieved.

In terms of complete Departments, one may not get the necessary transfer rapidly because reservations will be expressed at senior level within the Department. That is as it should be because in many cases people have put down their roots firmly in the Dublin area. They have access to third level education establishments and the commitments of their children in the education process will often dictate whether they move on or otherwise. In addition, spouses may be working. All those considerations influence decisions. A factor which must be taken into consideration, as in rural areas, is that if I decide to live in Newcastle West, my extended family is in the area. Naturally, there is a bond between the older members of one's family and people who are working. That should not be forgotten in regard to the Dublin area.

If expressions of concern are being made by senior people within the Civil Service in regard to moving, we recognise that civil servants, by virtue of their positions, will not be vocal in expressing an opinion which is contrary to Government policy and opinion. Through their unions they have articulated a concern in regard to certain members moving down the country. If decentralisation takes place, and I am an enthusiastic supporter of it, those left behind will have to be absorbed into other organisations. If so, will they lose out on seniority and promotional opportunities or would the evolution be in the country? Where decentralisation has taken place, such as in Ballina, if civil servants want to progress they have a better chance of doing so if they move back to Dublin. If the movement takes place in the other direction, will those in the Dublin area be regarded as not having co-operated with decentralisation and, if so, will they be penalised?

In regard to the scale of the project, I am not sure if offices are being decentralised to 25 counties. The largesse is being spread on a national basis. When the original decentralisation project for Newcastle West was introduced, Shannon Development stepped in and said it would be much better if it was embraced within the mid-west region, Kilrush and Listowel. At the time I said we would have a better chance of success because not alone is west Limerick being accommodated from a political dimension, but it takes in Clare and north Kerry. That is the reality of politics and that is what happened.

There is a level of interest about going to Newcastle West which I welcome. I can understand that level of interest given that recently I inquired about a person, not at senior level, in a Department in Dublin who was anxious to transfer to the area and I was informed that the person was very far down the queue. It struck me forcefully that people would willingly move to an area such as Newcastle West.

When we think of decentralisation we think automatically of Dublin and transferring to rural locations. The Department of Agriculture and Food in Limerick city is placed in an illogical location in regard to community services. If a farmer wants to do business there, it is impossible to get parking. When a Member of the other House, I often advocated that decentralisation should not focus totally on Dublin but should look at Limerick. If people from Limerick city want to transfer west, they should be given that scope. That should happen in regard to such locations.

I support the project in principle although there are many issues to be teased out. One has to recognise that senior civil servants and Ministers were not aware of the commitment and scale envisaged until they were told about it 48 hours before the budget. There was no consultation despite the fact that trades unions had sought, since 1999, an attitude survey to be carried out by the Minister for Finance on decentralisation. Failure to get that commitment resulted in an element of surprise and shock. Before the process is complete, there will be a long gestation process and many teething problems. There is an acceptance and a willingness throughout rural Ireland to embrace civil servants. When they decide to move, whether to Newcastle West, Kilrush or Listowel, they will find that their quality of life will improve considerably.