Connick due to discuss situation with Lenihan
TD FOR New Ross Sean Connick is due to have another meeting this week with Finance Minister Brian Lenihan to discuss the future of the decentralisation programme for the town.
New Ross was served a major blow last week following the decision by the Government to defer the decentralisation of 125 jobs from the Department of the Environment for at least three years.
'After the announcement of the Budget, I met with the Minister for Finance straight away and I am trying to make a special case for New Ross,' said Deputy Sean Connick, who now plans to discuss further this week what, if anything, can be done to help New Ross.
'We are in a situation where in the last year we have been going through the Barrack Lane Regeneration Plan. We are caught now as the decentralised offices are not happening until 2011 or worst case not happening at all,' said Deputy Connick.
The Fianna
Fail TD
is remaining optimistic about the town's decentralisation prospects as New Ross is fully subscribed with civil servants.
'New Ross is fully subscribed. We are also different in the list of postponements in that there are a number of agencies on that list. The towns with agencies have been in difficulty from quite a long way back - at least it is not an agency but part of a government department,' said Sean. 'I'll be fighting the case as hard as I can. I initiated the case back in 2000 and I'll be very disappointed if it cannot happen,' he said.
- Elaine FURLONG
