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Latest Developments on Decentralisation

Plans to decentralise State Agencies suffer another setback

Date Released: 23 Jun 2006

The Government’s flawed plan to decentralise State Agency workers across the country has suffered another setback according to SIPTU Branch Organiser, Owen Reidy.

“In Enterprise Ireland – one of the largest Stage Agencies included in the decentralisation plan – only 15 out of 300 staff members have indicated any interest in relocating from Dublin to Shannon,” said Mr. Reidy.

 “Enterprise Ireland recently unveiled plans for a Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) scheme and management gave a commitment to SIPTU that members who are reassigned, redeployed or promoted following the scheme would not be obliged to decentralise. However, SIPTU discovered  – through a freedom of information request – that neither the Department of Finance or the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment agreed with management’s view. As a result of this ambiguity SIPTU referred the matter to the Labour Relations Commission. Following two LRC meetings written clarification has been received by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment which categorically deals with our concerns and means that staff reassigned or promoted as a result of the VER will not now be obliged to relocate to Shannon. As a result, we can now proceed with discussions on the VER scheme.  Like our colleagues in FÁS we have successfully resisted the Department’s attempt to manipulate circumstances to compel people to move against their will.

“The most sensible decision for the Government to take at this point is to remove the State Agencies from the decentralisation plan immediately. There is clearly no appetite from staff in Enterprise Ireland to decentralise, there are no transfer ability arrangements in place and attempts to compel people to move have failed,” he concluded.





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