Ó Caolain raises decentralisation in Dáil
The issue of decentralisation was raised once again in the
Dáil by Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin last
week. The Cavan/Monaghan TD questioned 26-County Minister for
Finance Charlie McCreevy, who revealed that a Cabinet
Sub-Committee on Decentralisation has been established and is
expected to make decisions by the end of 2000.
The Sinn
Féin TD has previously raised in the Dáil and in
direct representations to the Minister for Finance, the need for
towns in Counties Monaghan and Cavan to top the list targeted for
decentralised government departments and agencies. On 17 October,
the TD questioned the Minister for Finance on whether a
government sub-committee had been established. The Minister
responded: ``The Government has established a Cabinet
Sub-Committee on Decentralisation comprising of the Taoiseach,
the Tánaiste, the Minister for the Environment and Local
Government and myself. Before taking their decision in relation
to the new programme of decentralisation, the Government will
consider all relevant aspects. In this regard the submissions and
representations will be considered, including those received from
and on behalf of many small towns throughout the country... The
consideration of these submissions, representations and enquiries
will form part of the Government's deliberations. In addition,
the Government has invited the views of the civil service
management and the civil and public service staff unions, which
will be conveyed to the Cabinet sub-committee. I am satisfied
that the Government will be in a position to take decisions in
relation to the new programme by the end of this year.''
In response, Ó Caoláin said: ``The Minister
promised in his Budget speech on 1 December 1999 that the next
round of decentralisation would be `more radical than those to
date'. I welcome the fact that a Cabinet Sub-Committee has been
formed but I regard it as unacceptable that almost a year has
passed since the Minister's commitment was made and still no
decisions have been taken.
``Public service staff unions have already expressed strong
reservations about the scale of plans and this clearly needs to
be the subject of detailed discussions and negotiations. Yet from
the Minister's reply it seems that consultations are only at a
preliminary stage.
``We need to see definite decisions being made and planning
getting under way. I have pressed for the town of Monaghan in
particular to be the location of a Department or other
significant agency decentralised from Dublin. Other towns in
Monaghan and Cavan should also be included. This measure is
needed to help reverse decades of disadvantage in these border
counties.
``I will continue to press the issue of decentralisation to
ensure that we see real progress before the term of office of
this government runs out.''
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