Decentralisation - 18,000 requests made to leave Dublin

Victor

No doubt these figures for the DoJ include Gardaí, Prison Officers and Courts Service staff and some 18 other agencies), not just administrative staff, who regularly seek reassignment. As I understand it Gardaí are entitled to a fixed rent allowance in lieu of a fixed location, meaning they are much better off down the country.

http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/topstories/716237?view=Eircomnet

18,000 requests made to leave Dublin
From:ireland.com
Monday, 12th May, 2003

The Government's long-awaited programme of moving civil servants out of Dublin is likely to be heavily oversubscribed, with 18,000 applications for a move being considered, according to Government figures obtained by Fine Gael.

While the Government pledged 3½ years ago to move 10,000 civil servants out of the capital, staff have made over 18,000 requests for relocation.

The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, told her party conference last month that the decentralisation programme would finally get under way later this year, but Department of Finance sources have warned it will take seven to 10 years to complete.

Applications for relocation are heaviest from the Department of Justice, which has received 7,832 requests for moves to its offices outside the capital. The lowest interest comes from the Department of Foreign Affairs, with just two staff seeking relocation within Ireland.

The figures relate to applications to move to departmental offices outside the capital, so the departments with more non-Dublin offices have more applications on their books. The figures do not necessarily mean 18,000 civil servants want to move, as some individuals may have submitted applications to move to several different offices.

The figures were given by Government departments in reply to written questions from Fine Gael Deputy Denis Naughten. After the Department of Justice, the highest interest has been shown in Social Welfare (4,326) and Agriculture (4,187). Fine Gael has tabled a Dáil motion for debate this week on foot of the figures. The motion condemns the Government for failing to begin the decentralisation programme and calls on it to lay out a detailed timetable.

Government decentralisation plans have been long-fingered in the face of intense lobbying from its own backbenchers and local interests seeking a Government department or office for their town.

By spreading out the process over a decade, the Government will be able to announce good news for certain towns without having to say in the short term which towns will not be part of the programme.

In a statement criticising the delay yesterday, the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, said the Government had "yet again shown their clear ability to separate commitment and delivery when it comes to the promises they make to the Irish electorate.

"The targeted numbers for decentralisation were hugely oversubscribed but the Government has done nothing to follow through on their policy."

He said relocating 10,000 workers from Dublin to towns outside the capital would potentially benefit both areas.