Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

The Government is firmly committed to the completion of the entire decentralisation programme and pleased with the progress achieved in the past 16 months. Some commentators have tried to imply that locations not included in the first phase announced last November would not proceed. It is the Government's intention that the full programme will be implemented. It will be appreciated, however, that in a programme of this scale all the individual projects cannot be realised simultaneously and some phasing is necessary.

The decentralisation implementation group was appointed by the Minister to drive the implementation of the decentralisation programme and consider issues such as the matter raised by the Senator. Last November, the group announced the organisations and locations it considered should be included in the first phase of transfers. In selecting these organisations it paid particular attention to the numbers wishing to transfer to each location, as indicated by their first preferences shown on the central applications facility, now widely known as the CAF. The progress made in each location on the identification and purchase of a suitable site or building was important in selecting locations. Business issues, as identified in the implementation plans of the organisations in question, were also considered by the group.

While Mallow and Mitchelstown were not included in the first phase of locations, it is intended that Bus Éireann will transfer to Mallow with approximately 80 staff. As the Senator is aware, my colleague, the Minister for Transport, is responsible for its decentralisation. The implementation group has received an implementation plan prepared by the company for its transfer to Mitchelstown. I understand Bus Éireann has taken responsibility for the procurement of its accommodation in the town but has not yet acquired a suitable site or building for its decentralised office.

Fáilte Ireland will transfer to Mallow with approximately 180 staff. My colleague, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, is responsible for this transfer and I understand from him that progress has been made. Fáilte Ireland has prepared a detailed implementation plan for the decentralisation of the authority to Mallow. Up to and including 7 September, the closing date for priority applications, a total of only ten applications had been received on the central applications facility. The Office of Public Works has identified a number of sites in Mallow as possible locations for the authority's offices in the town.

Although the intention is that the organisations, in the first phase, will receive initial priority attention in terms of staff transfers and property procurement, the implementation group emphasised that progress should also continue for all remaining organisations. The group has stated it intends to report shortly on progress and will address in its report the locations and organisations not covered in its report of last November.

I emphasise the benefits of decentralisation. Recent economic success has not been evenly spread throughout the State, with Dublin experiencing high levels of both population and employment growth resulting in congestion and creaking infrastructure. Most people would agree that a more even spread of development will contribute to sustainable long-term economic growth throughout the country. The movement of State employment from Dublin will help provide for the economic and social development of regions which have not benefited to the same degree as Dublin from recent economic success. The decentralisation programme will serve as a catalyst for further economic benefit in provincial Ireland while, at the same time, contributing towards reducing congestion in Dublin city and county.

Public servants who opt for decentralisation should experience significant financial and quality of life gains. Accommodation prices are much lower in the provinces and commuting times will also be lower. People will be able to return home to family and friends and civil servants already living and working outside Dublin will have a wider range of work and career opportunities which have been denied to them until now. Public servants who aspire to senior management positions will no longer have to migrate to the capital, although many will continue to do so. The Department of Finance recently launched a new website dedicated to decentralisation which can be found at www.decentralisation.gov.ie. I hope Senator O'Toole will have greater success than previously in logging on to the site.