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Dáil Éireann - Volume 617 - 05 April, 2006

Adjournment Debate. - Decentralisation Programme.

  Mr. Walsh: While the sideshow goes on, I wonder whether it will be possible for me to pursue my Adjournment matter. I am extremely pleased that the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, has come before the House to take this item because I do not agree with the idea of a package deal, whereby a Minister or Minister of State takes two, three or four Adjournment matters. I like to see the Minister who is responsible for a particular matter taking the matter in question.

  Mr. McGinley: And so say all of us.

  Mr. Walsh: When this takes place, it is good for the Chamber, the House and for democracy.

  Ms Burton: That was the sweet part of the speech.

  Mr. Walsh: Exactly. In 2003, the Minister for Finance made a major announcement on decentralisation, part of which was a commitment to decentralise a major portion of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, as well as Bord Iascaigh Mhara, to west Cork.

  Mr. McGinley: Surely the Deputy did not believe that.

  Mr. Walsh: In the meantime, arrangements were put in place for those civil and public servants who wished to be decentralised to avail of the opportunity through the central applications facility, CAF. Naturally, as this related to west Cork, a large number of people wished to avail of this facility.

  Ms Burton: There was a rush.

  Mr. Walsh: More than 200 did so and the scheme was over-subscribed. Since then, the people involved have contacted me and, presumably, other public representatives, to know when they will be facilitated with office accommodation in Clonakilty, in west Cork. The Office of Public Works was charged with the responsibility for providing office space and it has identified a site in Clonakilty. However, after three years, no successful tender has been awarded for the task of [1750] building a facility to date. As the Minister of State is aware, the process of securing planning permission, construction and fitting out can take approximately two years. Hence, this will result in a five year waiting time for the people involved, some of whom have children attending schools and who wish to make appropriate arrangements. I have made the case that interim facilities or arrangements should be made for the people who have already volunteered. Naturally, some are originally from the locality.

Hence I want to hear the Minister of State’s views as to what those people who have volunteered to take up employment in west Cork can look forward to. In other words, when will office accommodation be made available for them?

  Mr. Parlon: I am delighted to be in the House this evening to answer this question. I was quite annoyed to hear of the Deputy’s response during the Adjournment debate on 29 March because it is quite normal, depending on circumstances, for different Ministers to take Adjournment debates in the House. For example, while I understand that the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, intends to take the next two matters, I am unsure whether he is responsible for them. There was a late sitting on 29 March and I had an important personal appointment to fulfil. While I do not object to this issue being raised, I have read the Deputy’s comments and note that he spoke of my appalling disrespect to the House and to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I reject this. There was no disrespect. I could not be present. I discussed the matter with the Ceann Comhairle the following morning and he stated that it was quite normal and that he did not see any difficulty with the practice. Furthermore, my appalling——

  Mr. Walsh: The Minister of State had been in the Chamber a few minutes previously. I thought then and still think that it was appalling for the Minister of State to walk out in front of me, leaving me in the Chamber without answering my question.

  Mr. Parlon: The Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Tim O’Malley, was in the Chamber with a full Government response to the Deputy’s question.

  Mr. Walsh: Deputy Tim O’Malley is not the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works.

  Mr. Parlon: I know that. This is a response on behalf of the Government.

  Mr. Walsh: Deputy Parlon is the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works.

[1751]   Mr. Parlon: Furthermore, you spoke of my appalling lack of interest in this project. You of all people should be most aware that Clonakilty has advanced further than most projects because of my input and that of the Office of Public Works.

  An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: The Minister of State should address his remarks through the Chair.

  Mr. Parlon: As for resolving some of the issues that arose, most issues with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources were dealt with directly, as were some issues with Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM.

As for the response, a total of 184 jobs have been earmarked for Clonakilty under the Government’s decentralisation programme, with 91 from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and 93 from BIM. The Office of Public Works has purchased a three-acre site in the town and tenders have been invited for the design and construction of the new permanent offices. The tenders were due back to my office on 31 March. We have to allow a certain period for tenders as we are obliged to be totally transparent in all our dealings. The successful tenderer will lodge a planning application later this year and construction should commence in early 2007, assuming the planning process is not delayed.

Given the high level of interest from civil servants to relocate to Clonakilty, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has asked the OPW to source temporary offices to accommodate an advance party of staff until the permanent building is completed. The Public Appointments Service has indicated that a total of 176 expressions of interest from across the public service have been received for the posts in Clonakilty, 140 for the Department and 36 for the BIM positions. Following an extensive search for temporary office space in the town, the OPW has identified offices in the Clonakilty area that can accommodate up to 50 staff immediately and further suitable office space that could be acquired later in the year for an additional 50 to 60 staff.

The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has indicated its approval for the identified temporary accommodation and the proposal has been considered by the decentralisation group. The matter has been referred to the Department of Finance for sanction to acquire the space. This evening I checked with senior officials in the Department, who said the Minister has not yet given his sanction. They expect he will but that is a matter for the Minister.

When the business case for the interim accommodation has been evaluated and agreed by the [1752] Department of Finance, the OPW will proceed with the negotiations to lease the required space.

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