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Latest Developments on Decentralisation

Labour Party committed to reviewing decentraliasation

Date Released: 02 Feb 2007

“Labour in government will certainly ensure that the plan goes back to the drawing board”, Joan Burton, the party’s TD for Dublin West told the SIPTU meeting on decentralisation in Liberty Hall this evening. “We will ensure that a full review takes place with particular reference to the potential damage that will be done to specialist state agencies by forcing them to relocate.”

She was one of a number of TDs attending the meeting at the invitation of the union, which represents the majority of almost 1,600 workers in specialist semi-state agencies such as FÁS, BIM, Enterprise Ireland, Failte Ireland and the National Roads Authority. Only 56 staff have indicated they are willing to relocate to destinations ranging from Clonakilty to Gweedore.

Aongus O Snodaigh, Sinn Fein TD for Dublin South-Central, said, “This is an ill-conceived idea and political stunt. It needs to be put on hold and reviewed properly. These are highly skilled personnel of huge value to the state in areas which are highly technical. If decentralisation is forced through in its present form it has the capacity to put some of these agencies back many years.” 

SIPTU Regional Secretary Patricia King said that, “unlike the civil service, our members are not working for one employer and do not share a generic skill mix that is readily transferable between agencies. In fact most of them are highly qualified and have long experience in their chosen field. Many are also at a stage in life when family commitments make it difficult for them to relocate.

“SIPTU is not opposed to decentralisation, but it must be on a truly voluntary, properly managed, planed and rational basis. Several of these agencies such as FÁS already have offices and other facilities in every region of the country serving their client base.”





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