Cowen and Parlon deliver but State jobs move off track

IT was a case of ‘Cowen and Parlon Deliver again’ last night as it emerged that virtually all the jobs earmarked for Laois and Offaly would occur in the first phases of decentralisation.

In all, 945 posts, or almost a quarter of jobs in the first tranches, will go to the constituency of Finance Minister Brian Cowen and OPW Minister Tom Parlon.

By contrast, many counties including Tipperary (480 jobs), Cavan (425), Donegal (380) and Waterford (500) remain unlisted while only 12 of 210 jobs allotted for Galway, and 185 out of 970 for Cork will be filled in the first phases.