DECENTRALISATION:THE GOVERNMENT'S move to delay further spending on offices needed to move civil servants out of Dublin may have little effect as the State has already purchased sites or offices for most of those to be transferred.
So far the Office of Public Works (OPW) has bought sites or offices in 35 of the required 54 locations involved, and it would be difficult to retreat from contract negotiations for six more.
The Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan, said the Government, "in light of the exchequer position", would await the Decentralisation Implementation Group before spending any more money on "the acquisition of accommodation".
The Government has committed itself to a review of the decentralisation plan - first announced for 10,000 civil servants by Charlie McCreevy in the 2003 budget - following concerns expressed by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).
In its report on the Irish public service, which was commissioned by Bertie Ahern when he was taoiseach, the OECD warned that the plan could "fragment" the Irish Civil Service.
However, unions supportive of the decentralisation plan fear that some sites may not be built upon, while in other cases money will have to be found to fit out office "shells" left by contractors - this is often as expensive as building the shell.
In the case of five locations - Athlone, the Curragh, Furbo, Sligo and Monaghan - the Office of Public Works has already identified sites, although these may now fall foul of the tighter rules imposed yesterday.
Ten others - Carlow, Killarney, Longford, Newcastle West, Thurles, Trim, Drogheda, Portlaoise, Wexford and Waterford - have been acquired by the OPW from local authorities or State agencies.
Privately-owned sites have been purchased in Buncrana, Cavan, Claremorris, Clonakilty, Dungarvan, Edenderry, Mullingar, Roscommon, Tipperary and Thomastown. In Tullamore, the OPW bought out an office block in July 2006.
Long-term leases have been signed in respect of properties in Carrick-on-Shannon, Ballina, Listowel, Kilrush, Loughrea, Limerick and Navan (Revenue Commissioners, Department of Justice and the Property Regulator).
Contracts for sale have been received in a further locations including Enniscorthy, Newbridge, Youghal, Macroom and Kanturk, but not yet signed.
Terms have been agreed and contracts awaited for sites in Clifden and Fermoy.
Green Party Senator Dan Boyle welcomed the Government's decision "to effectively halt the decentralisation programme".
He described it as "a clear and pragmatic example of how seriously this Government is taking its responsibilities in managing the economy in challenging circumstances".
"The Green Party has long expressed its support, in principle, for decentralisation as guided by the national spatial strategy.
It is clear, however, that the programme has not to date been optimally implemented.
"In tightening budgetary circumstances, the time is right to pause, take stock and, crucially, to assess value-for-money considerations in any further decentralisation," he said.
