Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has welcomed the Government’s decision to scrap the decentralisation programme.
“Decentralisation was one of the most deranged and costly political adventures undertaken by any government in recent history.
“The policy was flawed from the start, and in the current economic climate there is no justification for it to continue. I am pleased that it has now been cancelled.
“I am therefore overturning decentralisation proposals for my Department with immediate effect:
- The headquarters of the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport will remain at 44 Kildare Street in Dublin;
- The Tourism and Sport Divisions, currently located in Killarney, will remain in situ;
- The original decision to move the Sports Council from Blanchardstown to Killarney is rescinded. The Council will instead be located at the Sports Campus at Abbotstown in Blanchardstown;
- CIE Group will not move to Mitchelstown;
- Failte Ireland will not move to Mallow;
- The Irish Aviation Authority HQ will not move to Shannon, but the operations already in situ in Shannon will remain in place;
- The National Roads Authority will not move to Ballinasloe;
- The Railway Safety Commission, and a number of Departmental functions, will not move to Drogheda;
- The Road Transport Operator Licensing section of the Department will be retained in Loughrea, Co. Galway;
- The Road Safety Authority will remain in Ballina.
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Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Press Office: Tel: (01) 604 1076 / (01) 604 1090
Contact: Nick Miller 086 6992080