FÁS staff mount further protest against decentralisation

FÁS staff have mounted another work-to-rule protest this morning as part of an ongoing campaign against the Government's decentralisation plans.

Staff at the agency's head offices are refusing to answer telephones or deal with emails and faxes as part of the protest, which is due to end at lunchtime.

The Government wants 400 FÁS workers to relocate to Birr, Co Offaly, as part of the decentralisation programme.

However, SIPTU says the vast majority of staff are not interested in the move and has warned that its campaign of opposition will escalate if the plans are not scrapped.

It has also accused FÁS and the Government of breaching the voluntary nature of decentralisation by limiting promotions to people who are willing to relocate.

Yesterday, the Government abandoned plans to transfer almost 100 probation officers from Dublin to Navan as part of the controversial decentralisation scheme.

SIPTU has said it hopes that a similar climbdown will take place in all state agencies.