Tánaiste hints at Government decentralisation backdown

The Tánaiste has hinted that the Government might be about to row back on plans to move certain staff from semi-state bodies to locations around the country under the decentralisation programme.

Foun hundred employees at the state training body FÁS are in conflict with the Minister for the OPW Tom Parlon over plans to move staff to Birr in Co Offaly.

Speaking in Dublin today Mary Harney implied that the FÁS issues may need to be looked at again.

She said her plan is to reach the targets identified in a longer time-frame.

“With a little imagination and everyone's support, I think we can reach the targets,” she said.

“But there is an issue, and I acknowledge there's an issue, of people working in an organisation and not having the opportunity to move to another organisation, and I think there's a real issue there.”