Decentralisation of departments ‘to spark growth’

THE decentralisation of eight Government departments will alleviate pressure on the Dublin housing market and spark economic growth throughout the country, it was claimed last night.

The move will see half of the capital’s civil service move out and will free up to 2 million square feet of offices in Dublin, much of it in old buildings leased by the Government since the 1960s and 70s.

It may also see thousands of civil servants get a windfall as they sell valuable Dublin homes and buy cheaper, larger homes in a variety of new towns. Others may hold on to homes in the capital as a pension resource.