O’Donoghue backs decentralisation

FORMER Fianna Fáil minister John O’Donoghue has defended the millions his party spent on the botched decentralisation scheme.

Mr O’Donoghue, who was forced out as Ceann Comhairle amid controversy over his expenses, said the benefits of decentralisation could be seen in his native Kerry. He criticised the Government for scrapping the remaining decentralisation projects.

When the scheme was launched in 2003, Mr O’Donoghue was arts, sport and tourism minister and announced the decision to decentralise his department to Killarney to newly built headquarters that cost €16 million.