Hauliers' protest expected at move from city

A public protest by road hauliers over the decentralisation of Department of Transport staff to Loughrea is being anticipated by the Department.

An increase in staff travel and subsistence costs is also likely following the move of its road haulage division to the Co Galway town, the Department says. Its concerns are outlined in a decentralisation implementation plan, provided on request to The Irish Times.

Only two years ago the road haulage division, which has nearly 40 staff, was moved from Dublin city centre to a site at Park West, adjacent to the M50.

In its plan, the Department says road hauliers may perceive a decrease in service quality and access as a result of the move to Loughrea, which it expects to take place next summer. As a consequence, it says, hauliers "may engage in some form of public protest against decentralisation".

About 50 per cent of the division's licensing and international section customers visit its public office to obtain licences and other documents, the plan says.

It proposes to minimise the impact of the move on hauliers through an "extensive communications programme" about the move, and an increased use of postage and the internet.

The plan points out that staff in the division frequently attend meetings in Dublin and overseas, particularly Brussels.

"Following decentralisation there will be higher level of travel and subsistence costs incurred by the division.

"There will be an increased amount of staff and management time spent on travel, which will lower the overall productivity of these individuals."

A similar concern is outlined in relation to the planned decentralisation of the Railway Safety Commission (RSC) to Ballinasloe, also in Co Galway. The newly-created body is still recruiting staff.

The Department's implementation plan says the main work of the commission is carried out "where the majority of railway journeys/passengers occur, i.e the Dublin region.

"There could be an issue of accessibility to work with the RSC being located away from the major commuter hub, and the increased amount of time and cost spent on work-related travel and the impact on overall productivity."