FÁS expresses serious concerns about decentralisation

The state training agency FÁS has expressed serious concerns about the Government's decentralisation programme.

Roddy Molloy, the director of the agency, said today that its work could come to a standstill due to a loss of experienced staff.

The Government wants to move a large proportion of FÁS staff from Dublin to Birr, Co Offaly, over the next three-and-a-half years.

However, an overwhelming majority of workers are strongly opposed to the move, which the Government has insisted will be voluntary.

The problems being experienced by FÁS are believed to be mirrored in many other state agencies and opposition politicians are now calling for the whole decentralisation project to be scrapped.