Ahern: decentralisation plan is off to a good start

THE Taoiseach yesterday stood by the Government’s roll-out of decentralisation, while conceding that it will take longer than originally thought.

Speaking in Dublin yesterday, Bertie Ahern accepted that three quarters of the 10,500 jobs earmarked for relocation outside the capital have not yet been prioritised. But he went on to say that the 3,500 jobs selected in the first two phases of the programme represented a good start.

“We have to start and within a year we have 25% signed up,” he said.

“We have the locations to move on. It’s going to take time obviously. We are ready to go with this group. It’s more important that we get this significant group and get this done.”

Mr Ahern was reacting to sustained criticism from the opposition and unions, following the latest reports from the decentralisation implementation group chaired by Phil Flynn.

In identifying early movers, the group recommended that some 3,500 posts in 15 Government departments be relocated to 20 locations.

A second report also revealed that the costs associated with the moves would not break even until 2026. This is a much longer time period than originally predicted by former Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy, when announcing the plan in last year’s Budget.

Some 4,700 of the posts to be transferred remain unlisted but should be the subject of the next report from the Flynn Group next Spring. The group recommended further steps to be taken in relation to another 2,200 posts. In doing so, it acknowledged that the interest in State agencies was much lower than that in the civil service.

Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton yesterday repeated his claim that the entire programme had “fallen asunder.”

Pointing out that 29 locations have been left in limbo by this week’s announcement, he claimed: “At the first test, it was clear that a huge swath of this programme was not feasible.

“Many people have been let down and I can understand their bitterness.”

Mr Bruton defended his brother John’s argument that no more than 5,000 should have been included in the programme. He maintained that the core policy-makers of Government Departments should have remained in Dublin.