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.

In announcing the first 3,500 posts to be transferred to 21 locations yesterday, the Government flatly rejected opposition claims that its plans to decentralise 10,500 State jobs by 2007 lies in tatters. However, senior ministers, including Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, conceded for the first time that the 2007 target will not be met. Three of the largest departments included in the first phases will not move before 2008, according to the latest reports published by the decentralisation implementation group.

Ministers yesterday downplayed the 2007 deadline, portraying it as an admirable but “unrealistic” aspiration of former Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy. Mr Cowen insisted the “implementation of the programme is well on track”. Mr Parlon, responsible for decentralisation, said he was confident the bulk of the programme could be completed by the end of 2008.

“We said that it was never going to be a ‘big bang’ but would happen in sequence.

“Now that the first two phases have been announced, it will allow civil servants who have been sitting on the fence to take a strong message that it is happening,” he said.

Yesterday’s announcement was greeted by a chorus of criticism from opposition parties and from a majority of unions representing civil servants.

Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton mocked the plan as a “shambles” that was quickly unravelling.

Labour finance spokeswoman Joan Burton said the “whole project is now in serious difficulties”.

Green Party finance spokesman Dan Boyle described yesterday’s announcement as a climbdown.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin of Sinn Féin accused the Coalition of deceiving the electorate by making promises they knew the could not keep.

IMPACT yesterday said that only 34 of the 149 specialist posts at the new OPW headquarters in Trim had been filled. The CPSU, which represents clerical and administrative staff, welcomed the move.