Politicians must be ready for tough decisions - McCreevy

Politicians should be prepared to make tough decisions, according to the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, who said he would not be using "independent assessment" when deciding the Government's decentralisation programme.

He promised however, that the Government would make its decision about decentralisation "early in the lifetime of this Administration". But he had to ensure "efficient and effective delivery of services" and there was no point in announcing a department move for a town or village that did not have infrastructure to support it.

Speaking during Finance questions, the Minister said that "whenever thorny issues are encountered in Ireland, it seems that public representatives delegate responsibility to somebody else as it is too difficult for them to decide". It had almost got to the stage where "we do not make our own decisions".

He added that the other problem with using an "independent group of eminent people" was that they would take on board the official things said to them, but would discount the points made by local TDs.

Mr Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West) said it was an insult to the snail to suggest the Minister had proceeded at a "snail's pace" in dealing with decentralisation, which was first promised in December 1999.

The only positive aspect of the delay, Mr McCreevy conceded, was the revelation of the numbers of Civil Servants who wished to relocate from Dublin.

When he first announced decentralisation senior Civil Servants advised against it but were "taken aback" by the level of interest from public servants in relocating out of Dublin.

Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said at least 10,000 public servants wanted to decentralise, and a real programme was long overdue because of the needs of the capital, which was "choking" with traffic, spiralling house prices and associated problems. Civil Servants would benefit from a better quality of life and it would offer real prospects to local communities.

Deputies from all regions appealed for consideration to be given to towns in their constituencies. The Minister understood the concern of many towns which felt that decentralised offices had passed them by and who wanted to get their "share of the action".

When Mr Phil Hogan (FG, Carlow-Kilkenny) appealed for consideration to be given to his constituency, the Minister raised a laugh when he said: "I never go to sleep at night without thinking about Kilkenny."