INISHOWEN'S Fianna Fáil
politicians yesterday rushed to calm fears that work
on the €24m decentralised Government buildings in
Buncrana would grind to a halt.
In a major setback for the State's ambitious
decentralisation programme, Finance Minister Brian
Lenihan has called time on the acquisition of any
new office accommodation pending reports from the
group in charge of the national decentralisation
project.
But local politicians quickly contacted headquarters
for reassurances on the Buncrana's decentralisation
project.
Cllr. Rena Donaghey said she was told that building
would continue on the new Social Welfare offices and
Garda station at Ardaravan Square in Buncrana. She
said the Garda station would be the first to be
completed and that the basement level on the complex
had already been finished.
Senator Cecilia Keaveney echoed the Buncrana
councillor's sentiments saying that despite the
"adjustment to the economy" existing decentralised
capital projects such as that in Buncrana would
continue.
"The Minister for Finance confirmed and clarified
that Buncrana's multi-million decentralised office
development will continue its construction. All
projects that have commenced will be completed and
those which have not begun will be subject to the
review that he alluded to by the decentralisation
implementation group which is due to report soon,"
said Senator Keaveney.
"I believed this to be the case for Buncrana, given
the substantial investment that is already under
construction. I want however to be clear about the
status of this project and therefore I have already
got that from Minister Lenihan. At a time when
construction is under pressure this development is
of the utmost importance," she added. While the
building work at Ardaravan Square is set to continue
until well into next year, the question of staffing
it in the future remains unclear. |
