Seanad debates

Tuesday, 19 April 2005

5:00 pm

Photo of Paul BradfordPaul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise the matter of decentralisation on the Adjournment. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, for coming to the House to respond to my question or plea, whichever way he wishes to put it. On many occasions the House has debated the Government's planned programme of decentralisation and the Minister of State knows that every Member of this House, regardless of party, supports the concept and practice of decentralisation.

Great satisfaction was expressed throughout the country in December 2003 when the then Minister for Finance, Mr. McCreevy, announced a widespread programme of decentralisation. In the north County Cork area, the communities in the towns of Mallow and Mitchelstown were exceptionally pleased to have been selected for decentralisation. Over many years, both the towns in question had made submissions outlining their cases for decentralisation. It was a source of great satisfaction, optimism and anticipation for the communities in both towns when it was announced almost 18 months ago that a section of Bus Éireann was to transfer to Mitchelstown and a section of Fáilte Ireland was to transfer to Mallow. It is now the spring of 2005 and people in those communities are becoming anxious about the apparent lack of progress. Given that we have debated this matter on numerous previous occasions, the Minister of State will be aware of the major doubts about Bus Éireann coming to Mitchelstown. Following confusion over the number of jobs promised, the initial response from the staff of Bus Éireann was negative and it was felt that it would not be possible to find a realistic number willing to move from Dublin to Mitchelstown. Similarly, in the past 15 or 16 months people in Mallow have been disappointed that more progress was not made in decentralising some of Fáilte Ireland to Mallow. Will the Minister of State clarify the vital question of whether it is still Government policy to decentralise Bus Éireann to Mitchelstown and Fáilte Ireland to Mallow? If this does not prove possible, will the Government decentralise other offices? As the Minister of State will be aware, hundreds of Civil Service staff in other Departments are willing to consider moving to regions such a north Cork. If it transpires that it is not possible to proceed with the initial plans regarding Mitchelstown and Mallow, the Government should acknowledge the position and commence plans to decentralise other Departments or offices to both towns. While I appreciate that one cannot move mountains overnight and we do not expect miracles, it is important that the current status of the decentralisation projects for Mallow and Mitchelstown are clarified as soon as possible. If they cannot be realised, will the towns be considered for other decentralisation projects? How quickly can alternative programmes be realised?

I look forward to the Minister of State's reply given his commitment to the decentralisation process and his Department's efforts to square the circle as it were. With thousands of Dublin-based staff willing to move to provincial areas, perhaps a better mix and match approach is required. Will the Minister of State give a strong commitment that jobs will be decentralised to the north Cork towns of Mallow and Mitchelstown? The promise given on budget day in December 2003 must be fulfilled.

6:00 pm

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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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.

Photo of Paul BradfordPaul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response. Will he confirm that if the decentralisation projects involving Bus Éireann and Fáilte Ireland are not realisable from a jobs and staff point of view — we all accept that plans do not always work out as originally envisaged — the Government will consider decentralising other offices or Departments to these towns? In other words, is the decision to transfer staff to Mallow and Mitchelstown sacrosanct and will it be delivered upon?

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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As I stated, the Government is committed to the full delivery of the decentralisation plan. For this reason, no concerns arise at this stage. Both Bus Éireann and Fáilte Ireland have prepared detailed implementation plans, which the relevant Minister and his or her Secretary General and departmental staff have a responsibility to implement. Today, the Office of Public Works appointed a person to take full charge of decentralising its headquarters from St. Stephen's Green to Trim. The individual in question will assume responsibility primarily for personnel and all attaching issues. The OPW is, therefore, moving ahead.

While I am not certain as regards the Senator's question, he could raise it with the two relevant Ministers. I understand a substantial number of Bus Éireann employees live in Munster as the company has operations in Tralee, Killarney and Cork city. While I have seen its implementation plan, there is no reason Bus Éireann should not fit into the decentralisation plans. If the Senator were to seek out the company's implementation plan, he could apprise himself of its enthusiasm or otherwise.

It is my responsibility in the Office of Public Works to find property and accommodation solutions for the decentralisation programme. Phase one was based on the enthusiasm of those who signed up on the central applications facility. Although attracting sufficient numbers proved to be a problem initially, as I stated previously, the CAF was designed for civil servants, whereas Bus Éireann and Fáilte Ireland employees operate outside the Civil Service. The process works much better when in-house implementation plans are drawn up.

Photo of Paul BradfordPaul Bradford (Fine Gael)
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Will phase 2 be announced shortly?

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Fianna Fail)
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We must proceed to the next matter. I call Senator O'Toole.

Photo of Joe O'TooleJoe O'Toole (Independent)
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I am interested in the information the Senator is extracting from the Minister of State. Although I have been having greater success accessing the decentralisation website in recent times, the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service is still seeking monthly reports on the progress of the decentralisation programme.