FAS workers protest in Dublin

Workers at FAS head offices in Dublin are protesting today outside the offices of the minister overseeing the decentralisation scheme.

The Government wants to move 400 FAS staff to Birr, Co Offaly, as part of its decentralisation plans, but SIPTU says very few staff are interested in the move.

It has also accused FAS of breaching the voluntary nature of the scheme by limiting promotions to employees who are willing to relocate.

The agency's staff have been engaging in a series of work stoppages to highlight their situation and are due to march on the offices of Junior Minister Tom Parlon in Dublin today as part of their campaign.

SIPTU has also warned that the situation could spread to other state agencies as only 2% of workers are in favour of moving to new locations around the country.

The union wants the Government to remove these agencies from the decentralisation plans.

However, Mr Parlon has said the situation should be resolved using the industrial relations structures of the State.