The Government's plan to transfer 10,000 civil servants from offices in Dublin may not be entirely finished by the next general election, the Taoiseach has conceded. He insisted though that the task would be "substantially completed".
Acknowledging that higher civil servants are more reluctant about the plans, Mr Ahern said there "increasingly" is evidence that "they are prepared to work with us, and negotiate with us."
Speaking on RTÉ's Week in Politics programme, he again ruled out paying transfer expenses to civil servants, pointing out that they could have "mansions" in rural Ireland with the proceeds of house sales in the capital.
The Government's life, he said, runs "until the end of 2006".
"I do believe that we will substantially complete the entire programme in this term of office. I would like to think that we would do it all. We will head for it all. We'll see how much we can achieve," he added.
However, Fine Gael's deputy leader, Mr Richard Bruton, said the plan to transfer 10,000 civil servants out of Dublin was hastily conceived and poorly thought out.
"The Government has circled the public service like a pack of hyenas waiting to rip the juiciest portion off the carcass for their own selfish needs," Mr Bruton said.
The National Spatial Strategy was ditched, the impact on services ignored, while the concerns of civil servants had been bypassed because ministers were determined "to pursue electoral advantage".
"Government policy is now determined by what will receive the loudest cheer at the next ardfheis. While many may dream of a home of their own surrounded by rolling acres and a slice of Government for their local town, sustainable regional development requires more of Government than a simplistic, short-term appeasement policy," Mr Bruton said.
Labour Party MEP Mr Proinsias De Rossa condemned the decentralisation plan as "an election gimmick for which Dublin will pay the price."
Commenting on the Taoiseach's ardfheis speech, he said: "It is especially ironic that the Government is marketing this proposal under the pretext of promoting regional policy, when in fact a coherent and workable regional policy demands a robust and efficient central government.
"Fianna Fáil's plans make a mockery of the whole concept of a capital city, which is by definition the seat of administration, while doing nothing to promote real regional development," Mr De Rossa said.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that the Government intends to spend up to €15 million on new furniture for offices that are moved out of Dublin under its controversial decentralisation plan.
The Office of Public Works has invited tenders for the manufacture, supply and delivery of about 10,000 desks, along with "pedestals and storage units" for various decentralised offices throughout the country.
Supply firms have been given just four weeks to apply for the contract, which has a start date of October 2004.
All the furniture is due to be in place by July 2007.
The announcement is further evidence of the Government's intention to push ahead with decentralisation despite threats of industrial action from civil service unions.
The OPW said the estimated cost of the furnishing contract, which would entail deliveries to areas of Connacht, Leinster and Munster, was €15 million. Demands include a Grade A oak wood veneer finish on all desks, work-stations, conference tables and bookcases.
