Government ‘stalling on decentralisation’

OPPOSITION parties accused the Government yesterday of stalling on its major decentralisation programme because it is afraid of losing votes in next year’s local and European elections.

Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy first revealed his plans to move 10,000 civil servants outside Dublin almost four years ago and Tánaiste Mary Harney said the first phase was due to be sanctioned by the Cabinet in July.

But 132 towns are still waiting on the Government to bite the bullet and sanction the move of 10 departments outside the capital.