Will decentralisation offices stand empty?

THE Government’s website states that Finance Minister Brian Cowen has welcomed the Decentralisation Implementation Group’s report to the effect that “decentralisation will be a reality in 29 towns by the end of 2007” and that “progress is well advanced in relation to the civil service aspects of the programme”.

Mr Cowen said “the success of the programme can be seen from the fact that decentralisation is now a reality in 12 new locations and that over 2,000 civil servants will have relocated to 29 locations by the end of 2007”.

Furthermore, “This steady level of progress is an indication of the level of interest in relocating among civil servants and represents an endorsement of the ability of public service managers to effectively manage the staffing, business and property issues arising.”