Decentralisation - Ministers should heed warnings

THE note of caution from the president of the Royal Institute of Architects (RIA) regarding a modification of proposed decentralisation plans, is a matter which the Government would be strongly advised to consider.

Currently, the Government is going ahead with plans to spend at least €900m on providing office space for more than 10,000 public servants it wants to move out of Dublin. They would be re-located to 53 different locations throughout the country in a scheme hatched by previous Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy.

When it was announced by him in the Budget last year, it was perceived as a political ploy which would appeal to the regions, and was heralded conveniently well ahead of this year’s local and European elections. From that aspect it failed, as the electorate proved in the election results that it was not in the humour for contrived schemes to boost a then unpopular Government.

Now Tom Reddy of the RIA has warned that Dublin and the targeted regions are simply not ready for such large-scale decentralisation.

Dublin will continue to grow disproportionately to the rest of the country, while the main cities need a planned improvement of infrastructural development - including motorway and rail links.

Mr Reddy’s comments were made as a conference organised by bodies representing architects, planners and engineers concerned with the future of Ireland’s towns and villages opened in Limerick. While supporting the broad ideal of decentralisation, those professionals are concerned that the proposed decision to disperse staff to the 53 separate locations may not be compatible with the National Spatial Strategy, as this envisages a more balanced development between regions over 20 years.