Decentralisation - Government’s plan should be re-drawn

YESTERDAY’S disruption of services at the State training agency FÁS was a graphic illustration of the level of opposition within the civil and public service to the Government’s ill-conceived decentralisation scheme.

As in other departments, only a tiny minority of the agency’s 400 staff have agreed to move to Birr, Co Offaly, the political backyard of Junior Minister Tom Parlon, who has responsibility for the programme.

Even the Taoiseach has performed a U-turn, admitting the Government had bitten off more than it can chew. Clearly, it was a serious mistake to introduce a compulsory promotional clause to a supposedly voluntary scheme.

While the Coalition remains committed to the project, it is losing the battle and the original three-year deadline has now been replaced by a long-term target.

If the Government is serious about devolving power to the regions, it should go back to the drawing board.