SIPTU refuses to participate in decentralisation IT system

THE country’s largest trade union will not co-operate with the computerised application system for civil service decentralisation.

As Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy yesterday launched the new system for 10,000 civil servants, SIPTU representatives from 20 State agencies unanimously agreed to tell their members to refuse to participate in the process.

The Central Applications Facility (CAF) will allow public servants to apply online to be transferred outside Dublin. Those who apply before July 8 will be given priority, if the location they have chosen is over-subscribed.

However, SIPTU’s Owen Reidy said that there were a range of issues relating to decentralisation that had not yet been resolved and that co-operating with the system at this stage would be premature and completely inappropriate.

“Our members are frustrated that both the Department of Finance and their own employers (in other departments) are unable to answer many serious questions or address the concerns they have about decentralisation.” He said the Government had asserted that the process was voluntary, yet civil servants were unable to express their wish to remain in Dublin with their present employer.

Meanwhile, Green Party TD Dan Boyle last night highlighted what he described as the farce of the decentralisation process.

During an adjournment debate in the Dáil, the Cork South Central deputy said that Department of Agriculture laboratories at Model Farm Road in Cork were not included in the original announcement. Yet, the Government had altered its programme and was sending Model Farm Workers to Macroom and veterinary office workers to Fermoy.

“Over 90% of the workers live within six kilometres of Cork City. Moves to Macroom and Fermoy will involve considerable additional costs and commuting times,” he said.