Cowen defends transfer of State agencies

Fewer than one in 10 specialists is volunteering to move in the Government's decentralisation of State agencies, Fine Gael finance spokesman Richard Bruton claimed.

He challenged Minister for Finance Brian Cowen to say how he proposed the agencies would continue "in a decentralised location if 90 per cent of the skilled expertise is melted down in the process".

Mr Bruton said people working in the agencies did not have the option of moving to others. "Their contract is with the State agencies by which they are employed."

Mr Cowen said progress had been made in some agencies, but because there was no tradition of interchangeability or greater operability, they must explore with the Ictu how this might be moved forward at central level.

"That element of the programme will take longer to achieve, but progress is evident in a number of areas.

"A number of agencies are progressing their moves where location, mix of staff, business and size of organisation are favourable."

He said the Health and Safety Authority had established an advance office in Kilkenny in preparation for its moves to Thomastown, and Pobal had set up an office in Clifden.

This year it was expected that the Road Safety Authority would be located in Loughrea and Ballina.

He said Fás would have a further small advance office in Birr, while the Equality Authority would have an advance office in Roscrea. SEI would have a presence in Dundalk.

Enterprise Ireland would be establishing a presence in Shannon, including the transfer of some existing Shannon Development posts to that organisation.

"Officials in my department are in contact with the Ictu on the matter. The decentralisation implementation group has expressed a view that resolution of the outstanding issues is central to the overall implementation process in the State agencies.

"I agree with the view, and I hope that matters can move forward.

"As with all industrial relations negotiations, it is impossible to give a precise timeframe for their conclusion."

Mr Bruton asked what offer was being made to people with expertise in State agencies who opted to remain in Dublin.

"This is supposed to be a voluntary programme. The Government wants people to volunteer to do one or the other.

"The only offer that I have heard from people who wish to remain in Dublin is unemployment."

Mr Cowen said it was hoped that discussions with the Ictu at a central level would help to resolve those matters, rather than dealing with individual State agencies and unions representing individual groups of staff.