Decentralisation plans for Mayo were largely unaffected by Minister Brian Lenihan’s budget, the details of which were announced this week, except for 38 jobs which will be reviewed in three years’ time. Confirmation was given by the Finance Minister that decentralisation will go ahead in Claremorris and Charlestown.
One hundred people have already been decentralised for the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and a further 65 are due to move. These workers are currently located in temporary accommodation in Tubbercurry until a new premises is built in Charlestown.
In Claremorris 29 workers have already been decentralised by the Office of Public Works and a further 75 people are due to take up positions there. However, the fate of 38 further positions in Claremorris, who are part of phase two of the OPW decentralisation plans, hang in the balance until a review of the decentralisation programme in 2011.
Nationally 2,500 workers have already been decentralised and this figure will more than double to 6,000 under the current programme. A full review of the remaining 4,000 will be conducted in 2011, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs confirmed on Budget night.
The news has been welcomed by Fianna Fáil TD Beverley Flynn who also confirmed that funding for the Western Rail Corridor is on track after Budget 2009.
Deputy John O’Mahony said the fact that the decentralisation of the Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs offices to Charlestown will proceed as planned was good news for the area, “especially in these difficult economic times”.
