West=On=Track -News

Western Rail Corridor and Mayo decentralisation on track

Press Release by Beverley Flynn TD 16th July 2008 

The decentralisation of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to Charlestown is secure and funding for the Western Rail Corridor is on track according to Mayo Fianna Fáil TD Beverley Flynn, who received assurances from the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Eamon O'Cuiv, at a meeting of the Swinford Comhairle Ceantair on Monday that both projects are secure and unaffected by the adjustments in Government spending announced last week.

Deputy Flynn said she is also confident that the planned decentralisation of the Office of Public Works to Claremorris will also proceed as planned.

Deputy Flynn said:"Minister O'Cuiv told me that he is confident that the decentralisation of his Department to Charlestown is secure. The move is already so far progressed, with 101 of 170 civil servants based in temporary accommodation in Tubbercurry, that it is not an at-risk project."

"Terms have been agreed for a suitable 4.89 acre site and the contract for the site is currently being processed by the Chief State Solicitors Office."

"Similarly a site has been purchased in Claremorris and 35 staff are already in temporary accommodation. No contracts have been signed for the building as yet, but I am hopeful that this project will progress as planned also."

"The Government is currently awaiting reports from the Decentralisation Implementation Group and the Implementation Group of Secretaries General and once that is received it will be know what projects are going to progress and at what pace."

"Minister O'Cuiv also told me that works on the Western Rail Corridor will continue as planned, with completion due in 2014 for the Tuam to Claremorris section," she said.

"While it is important that the Government takes corrective action on planned spending in accordance with the slowdown in the economy, if projects have to be cut back, I would not like to see projects on the west coast suffer while projects on the east coast move ahead."

"Any change in capital programmes should be made on a strategic basis so that the economy of the entire country can continue to grow," she said.