Only 2% of IMPACT members apply for decentralisation

ONLY 2% of members of the biggest union in State agencies have applied to be decentralised outside of Dublin.

While the official figures show that one in three of the civil servants have applied to be relocated, a closer examination shows a low demand in key areas, said IMPACT spokesman Peter Nolan.

This is particularly apparent in the key State enterprises like the Irish Aviation Authority, the Ordnance Survey Office, ADM and Comhairle whose employees IMPACT represents.

“A detailed analysis of the figures show a much starker picture in these State agencies where only 2% of Impact employees have applied for the decentralisation programme,” Mr Nolan said.

There is even less demand for decentralisation in the Probation Service which is due to move to Navan. “There are 80 staff required to move from Dublin to Navan, but only one has applied,” Mr Nolan told RTÉ. The Government has claimed the figures applying for decentralisation is much lower in State agencies because a number of unions had asked their members not to fill out the forms.

However, IMPACT, which represents most of the workers in the State enterprises, said it gave no instruction to their members.

Preliminary figures released by the Government on Thursday showed that 2,200 Dublin-based civil servants have applied for the 6,300 job transfers to regional offices. This trend shows unions were right to look for more consultation and an independent evaluation of the decentralisation plan, IMPACT spokesman Peter Nolan said. “We called for consultation and independent evaluation and we did not get it, but if I was in business in Navan, Kanturk, Wexford or Waterford I would now be calling for consultation to ensure the plan that aims to breathe life into rural communities will work.”

The deadline for applying for the decentralisation programme had been extended to September 7. While

IMPACT accepts that these preliminary figures are like tally figures at an election, they still show the trends that unions warned about four years ago when decentralisation was first proposed, said Mr Nolan.

“The €20 million allocated in the Budget by Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy for the acquisition of property for decentralisation must now be set aside until September 7 until we get a real figure of the numbers who want to move,” said Mr Nolan.

However, a Government spokesperson said the plans for decentralisation are proceeding.

Mr McCreevy has said the first preliminary figures are a very encouraging start to a programme which is still in its infancy.