Civil servant jobs 'will be moved'
The Government’s commitment to decentralisation remains absolute, the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis heard.
Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy told delegates nothing would deflect the administration from relocating over 100,000 civil and public servants to over 50 locations around the country.
“Nobody should be in any doubt about the government’s resolve to implement this decentralisation programme in full,” he said.
“Contrary to some media and opposition suggestions, this programme will proceed, there will be no rolling back of the plan.
“Fianna Fáil is the party of decentralisation, our record demonstrates that, we have delivered and we will deliver this programme.”
Social Welfare:
Up to €1m is to be provided to family and community groups this year to mark the 10th anniversary of United Nations Year of the Family, the conference heard.
Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Coughlan said she would be inviting groups to apply for individual awards of up to €2,000.
“Families still remain the basic units in our society forming a crucial social safety net for improving the well-being of individual family members and promoting social cohesion more widely,” she said.
Ms Coughlan said community groups, support groups, a street full of families, a parish council or any such group could apply for grants to assist them in celebrating the family in their area.
“More substantial awards will also be available to larger regional or national groups for once-off events or projects focussing on families and family life in today’s Ireland,” she said.
“Preference will be given to support projects of lasting value.”
Ms Coughlan said each application would be judged on its own merits.
“I say to families, it’s your day, celebrate your family.”
Transport:
A €600m upgrade to the M50 which rings Dublin has been approved by the Government, Transport Minister Seamus Brennan told delegates.
Mr Brennan said the project would help solve congestion at Ireland’s busiest road junction, the Red Cow Roundabout and add an extra lane to the motorway.
He said work on the first phase of the scheme to improve the roundabout would begin by the end of the year and be complete by 2006.
“It will end the nightmare that has been the Red Cow Roundabout,” he said.
“It will allow for free-flowing traffic and will dramatically reduce the numbers of cars crossing near the Luas.”
Mr Brennan said completing the M50 was an urgent priority.
"There have been obstacles put in our way and as a result 80,000 cars a day are caught in congestion,” he said.
“I am confident that we have now overcome almost all the obstacles. We will complete the motorway.”
Defence:
Almost 10% of Ireland’s total defence force is currently on peacekeeping duty in trouble spots across the world, the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis heard.
Defence Minister Michael Smith said the 800 Irish men and women working abroad marked one of the biggest proportionate commitments of any nation to UN peacekeeping.
However, Mr Smith said there remained a greater need for the international community to anticipate conflict and humanitarian crises before they take on monumental dimensions.
“I intend to use the current Presidency of the EU to explore how a more refined early warning and rapid response capability can be put in place by the EU in support of the UN,” he said.
“It’s no longer good enough for us to be going in after crises have erupted.”
