Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I will not use the term "decentralisation" because that is not what is involved in the Government's proposal. It is a complete misnomer. The Government is proposing to relocate staff on the basis of reasons which appear to be solely political. I would like to ask the Minister about the original proposal to relocate 200 Bus Éireann posts from Dublin to Mitchelstown. The plan has caused significant concern among staff, who are not prepared to contemplate such a drastic move because they and their families are settled in Dublin. We know that no member of the staff of Bus Éireann has applied for decentralisation to Mitchelstown. The Minister has said that 86 jobs in Bus Éireann are capable of being decentralised.

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