Coughlan: Decentralisation on track

THE decentralisation of Department of Agriculture and Food laboratories to Macroom, Co Cork, is on track, Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan disclosed during a visit to the town yesterday.

She said the Office of Public Works is in the process of evaluating the responses received.

“This process should be completed early in the new year and, following site selection, the Decentralisation Implementation Group expect construction to get underway in the last quarter of 2007.

“With completion scheduled for 2009, the new state-of-the-art facility will then see 100 civil service posts move to the town,” she said.

Decentralisation to Macroom involves the relocation of laboratories located in Limerick and Cork into one new complex.

Ms Coughlan noted that there is a shortfall in applications from existing specialist laboratory staff.

But she said the Department of Finance is examining how to overcome the difficulties.

“As with decentralisation generally, the relocation of staff from their current location to the new complex in Macroom is on a voluntary basis.

“Macroom has proved to be a popular choice, however, with 87 applications so far for the 100 posts available and we are working on the specialised staff issue.

“I am confident that the full complement of staff, including specialist laboratory staff, will be in a position to move to the town come 2009,” she said.