SIPTU representatives from 20 State agencies are meeting today to discuss the latest round of talks with the Department of Finance on the controversial decentralisation plan.
Mr Owen Reidy of SIPTU's State and Related Agencies branch said the union's members continue to be frustrated that the department and their own employers are unable to answer many serious questions or address the concerns they have about decentralisation. That is why they have refused to take part in the Government's online Central Applications Facility (CAF), he said.
"Out of the 2,500 state agency workers earmarked for decentralisation, SIPTU represents over 1,500 employees across 20 agencies. Unlike many civil servants, employees of state agencies do not have the flexibility to indicate a preference to move from one department to another if relocation does not suit."
Mr Reidy said recent statements by the Taoiseach would indicate that the Government's plan to move 10,300 public servants out of Dublin was becoming "untangled" and that it made no sense as far as the State agencies were concerned.
"Because State agencies have specific remits, and their employees have particular skills, a major redeployment within the sector, could lead to a reduction in the delivery of service and a loss of collective accumulated experience. This would not deliver value for money to the public, nor be beneficial to the employees," Mr Reidy said.
"The level of opposition to the proposal is as high as ever among SIPTU members. We have already indicated that current agreements and accepted procedures concerning promotions and the renewal of contracts in the State agencies must be strictly adhered to. It's time now for the Government to see sense."
The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, made the surprise announcement about decentralisation during his Budget speech in December last year. Despite widespread criticism and opposition from some public servants, Mr McCreevy recently insisted the plan would be delivered in full and that it would not be changed.
It has, however, recently emerged that it may not be possible to complete all aspects of the plan by the end of 2006, the original target date. The Minister of State overseeing the plan, Mr Tom Parlon, indicated that premises may in some cases not become available for relocated employees until 2007.