Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

The announcement in December 2003 of the Government's decentralisation programme provided a significant boost to the entire country. We in County Cavan were delighted that our county town, Cavan town, was one of the seven towns selected for one of the main Departments. The news of the reallocation of the headquarters of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to Cavan town was welcomed by my colleagues on Cavan County Council and Cavan Town Council and was a major confidence boost to the town and county of Cavan and surrounding counties. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to my Oireachtas colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, the late county manager, Brian Johnston, and his officials, and Mr. Vincent Reynolds, chief executive officer, Cavan County Development Board, for their tremendous efforts in promoting Cavan town as a suitable location for decentralisation.

I am aware that a number of suitable sites for the location of the headquarters of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources have been examined. I am most anxious that a decision be made and a site selected to allow us progress in regard to the relocation of the Department to Cavan town as soon as possible. I ask the Minister of State to make contact with the Office of Public Works and get an immediate decision on the choice of site in the town. The county manager, and all his senior officials, are anxious to work as closely as possible with the Office of Public Works to facilitate the acquisition of a suitable site. Progress can and should be made without further delay.

I welcome the recent letter to the Minister of State, Deputy Smith, and myself from the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, reiterating the Government's commitment to the earliest possible implementation of its full decentralisation programme. I urge the Minister of State to make contact with the Office of Public Works so that a site can be acquired and we can get on with relocating over 400 civil servants to Cavan town as soon as possible.