Parlon builds up €90m decentralisation fund

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS Minister Tom Parlon has amassed a decentralisation kitty of €90 million, by selling off unused State properties.

Figures to be published by the Government today are expected significantly boost the controversial programme by showing up to 9,000 public servants want to be relocated from Dublin.

But it remains to be seen if Mr Parlon will still be in his present position as Junior Minister for Finance to oversee the rollout of decentralisation by the Office of Public Works, involving the relocation of 10,300 public sector workers to 52 locations across the country.

The sale of State assets by Mr Parlon, the Minister responsible for the OPW, has raised €100 million this year, with €90m earmarked for the decentralisation programme.

Added to the €20m already allocated by Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy for decentralisation, the Government now has a fund of €110m to spend on land and property in locations where departments and agencies are being moved.

Fianna Fáil sources predict that if (when) Brian Cowen is appointed as Finance Minister in the forthcoming reshuffle, he will not want his Laois-Offaly constituency colleague as a Minister of State in his department and Mr Parlon will become a Junior Minister at the Department of Enterprise.

Although Mr Parlon was heavily criticised for taking political advantage of decentralisation with his infamous ‘Parlon Delivers’ leaflets, the fund will afford him a firm claim to remain involved in the process.

The results from the Decentralisation Central Applications Facility (CAF) today are understood to show take-up is higher among civil servants than state agency sector workers.

Last night, Government sources said the figures were far more positive than predicted and suggested there might even be oversubscription by civil servants.

The figures will also crucially reveal the level of take-up among senior officials - so far, quite low - and the numbers interested in moving to specific locations.

Although none of the €110m fund has been spent, the completion of the transfer lists is expected to speed up decentralisation.

Next year, another €100m is expected to be raised from the sale of under-utilised assets under the OPW’s transformation of the State property portfolio.

Last night, a Department of Finance spokesperson said €90m has come into the exchequer from OPW sales this year and this has been specifically set aside for buying sites for decentralised offices.

Parlon’s property

The top sales of State property:

Department of Justice, Stephen's Green, Dublin - €52.3m.

OPW offices, Lad Lane, Dublin - €22.5m.

Revenue Commissioners offices, Lord Edward Street, Dublin - €8.8m.