Decentralisation 'should be scrapped'

The Government should abandon decentralisation plans when Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy takes up his new role as European Commissioner, it was claimed today.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said Mr McCreevy’s departure provided the perfect opportunity to shelve plans to force thousands of public servants out of Dublin.

Mr Rabbitte said the decentralisation scheme was damaging and unworkable and called on the Government to halt the plan.

“I urge the Taoiseach to take this opportunity to abandon the unworkable decentralisation plan announced by Mr McCreevy last year,” he said.

“However, I am less confident he will seize the opportunity to change the direction of the Government’s economic and social policy that Minister McCreevy’s departure allows.”

Under the decentralisation plan, thousands of government workers are being asked to move out of the capital and into the regions.

Mr McCreevy will be Ireland’s next European Commissioner and it is believed he will be offered a top post in Brussels after several successful years at the helm of Ireland's economy.

Mr McCreevy, who had insisted he did not want to leave for Europe, will continue as Finance Minister until the Cabinet reshuffle in the autumn.

As Finance Minister since 1997, the Kildare TD was acclaimed for his moderate fiscal policies which led to unprecedented economic growth.

But he has also been heavily criticised for not devoting enough resources to the poorer sections of society.

Mr McCreevy’s departure will leave Taoiseach Bertie Ahern with wider options for the reshuffle of his frontbench team.

The senior EU economic portfolios available to Mr McCreevy may include the posts of Competition Commissioner and Trade Commissioner.

Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowan is the favourite to succeed Mr McCreevy in the finance department.