Who is being served by decentralisation?

IT may require a leap of the imagination, but I thought the whole purpose of decentralisation was to improve ‘public service,’ as well as letting residents of the capital know there is life beyond Dublin. (‘Into the West,’ Irish Examiner, July 9).

With reference to the term ‘public service,’ two questions spring to mind.

1. At what stage were we the humble taxpaying ‘public’ consulted on this issue?

2. Judging by the frequent non-communication and lack of policy consultation between government departments - for example, Justice, Health and Transport - while administrating from the same town, how in heaven’s name could there be anything but a deterioration of ‘service’ if state bodies were scattered to every God-forsaken, desolate spot with non-existent or archaic infrastructural and communications systems?

The mind boggles.

Kevin Jordan

Village View

Clashmore

Co Waterford