Decentralisation site for auction?

Today, there are approximately 40 staff working for the Department of Communications in Cavan.

A number of senior politicians say the idea of decentralisation should be revisited in light of greater remote working capabilities, technological advances and public health concerns.

The calls come as the Office of Public Works (OPW) confirmed toThe Anglo-Celt that a 10.84 acre greenfield site in Cavan Town, once earmarked for decentralisation, could be sold at public auction next year if an alternative use can't be found.

Bought from the Brady family in 2006 for a sum of €2.9m, the lands just off Farnham Road were intended for a new headquarters for the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

Almost 380 civil servants were to relocate to Cavan under the ill-fated 2003 decentralisation programme.Ultimately, only an “advance” party ever arrived, totalling 57 people or 15% of the number envisaged.

Today, there are approximately 40 staff working for the Department of Communications in Cavan.

See this week's newspaper for a full two-page feature report on the plan for decentralisation, what happened, and how we've gotten to this point.