Fish farmers have added their voice to criticism of the Government's decision to decentralise the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources from Dublin to Cavan.
Mr Richie Flynn, chief executive of the Irish Salmon Growers' Association (ISGA), said his organisation supported the principle of decentralisation and welcomed the fact that Cavan was going to be the location for a Government Department.
"However, this is not the Department to send to an inland town like Cavan," Mr Flynn said. "The marine section of this Department deserved to be relocated to another coastal area, but this geographical choice for administration will put even further strain on the sector".
Some 425 staff in the Department will move from headquarters at Leeson Lane, Dublin, to Cavan.
Some 150 staff at Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) will move from Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, to Clonakilty,Co Cork, and 40 staff at the Central Fisheries Board (CFB) will move from Glasnevin in Dublin to Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.
The Marine Institute is already relocating to Galway.
Several months ago the Minister for the Marine, Mr Ahern, signalled his commitment to decentralisation when he decided to close the Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (MRCC) at Leeson Lane, Dublin, and transfer its staff to the two MRCC bases in Valentia, Co Kerry, and Malin, Co Donegal.
