Decentralisation plan threatens Government efficiency, warns expert

THE controversial decentralisation plan threatens the future well-being of Government in this country, one of Ireland’s leading academics claimed yesterday.

The head of one Government department also disclosed yesterday that it envisages its decentralisation plan will take five years to implement, rather than the three-year period set by the Government as its deadline.

Ed Walsh, the former President of the University of Limerick, said the plan would fragment the Government into nine components, adding this would have grave implications for cohesive government.