Civil servants warn of decentralisation 'chaos'

Senior civil servants have warned of "administrative chaos" and a "public service wasteland" in Dublin if the Government goes ahead with its decentralisation plans.

According to a report published by Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (AHCPS) today, the plan to relocate  10,300 civil servants outside the capital will cause major administrative, infrastructural, social and financial difficulties unless it is radically overhauled.

Despite the fact that only a fifth of all 10,300 civil servants involved have expressed a willingness to leave Dublin, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, insisted yesterday the Decentralisation Implementation Group is "well on target" to deliver its Implementation Plan by the end of this month.

The AHCPS, which represents over 3,000 senior civil servants, is holding a conference  in Dublin today to debate 65 motions on decentralisation. The vast majority of these motions are critical of the plan, which was announced by the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, on Budget Day last December.

Mr McCreevy has insisted civil servants would not be compelled to move from the capital and would not lose promotions if they did not comply with the plan. However, the AHCPS claims there is a "coercive undertone" and notes the Department of Finance has already halted certain Dublin promotions.

An AHCPS Executive Report on the plan sharply criticises the Government for its "shortcomings in preparation and planning" of the scheme, which will directly affect 60,000 staff and their families.

The report attacks the "secretive manner" in which the decision was taken and the lack of advance consultation with public service unions. It also seeks to extend the timescale for the moves from the current three years to between ten and 15 years.

It said the decentralisation programme, "while unobjectionable in principle, is unworkable in practice" within the timeframe proposed. "It is also clear that there will be substantial surpluses, administrative chaos, increasing costs and a potential for serious reduction in quality of services being provided."

The association warns the plans to relocate staff to 53 locations in 25 counties could lead to "a public service wasteland in Dublin in respect of legitimate career and development requirements".

It also says house prices, electricity and water supply, traffic volumes and education facilities in the new locations will be badly affected. The AHCPS report attacks the Government for a lack of forward planning to avert these problems.

AHCPS  members were also angered at Mr McCreevy's acknowledgement today that the
Government faced "catastrophe" if the plan was not fully implemented by the next General Election in 2007.

The AHCPS chairman, Mr Sean McDonald, called on the Goverment to address the association's concerns immediately. "What is required now is a return to rationality, common sense, sensitivity, compassion and patience - all characteristics manifestly, and most regrettably, absent from the details set out in December's announcement," he said.

It emerged last week the Government is considering a CAO-style system for civil servants applying for transfer to places outside Dublin in order to maximise the take-up of the scheme.