SHANNON and Limerick have lost out on an economic boost with a total of 394 decentralisation jobs rubbed off the slate.
Plans to bring 102 additional Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) staff to the region have been scrapped in the government’s review of decentralisation, while it has been confirmed that a further 292 staff earmarked from Enterprise Ireland is to be “reviewed”.
It is expected that the move will now not go ahead.
The high-earners would have relocated to homes in Limerick and Shannon, bringing far greater numbers of people than the number of jobs would indicate, as whole families had made plans for the move.
Helen Downes, CEO of Shannon Chamber of Commerce, said that the decision “is a blow for the region.
“It would have brought revenue and expertise into the region but we knew we would be hit in some way once the Government had to start looking at making cuts.”.
Mayor of Shannon, Mary Brennan, said that it “would have been a boost that was badly needed, when you think about what a difference even 10 jobs makes now”.
Mayor Brennan told the Limerick Post that while the bonanza of 328 high-end jobs would be an item on Shannon’s wish list “we have to realise that it just isn’t practical now. -the money isn’t there”.
Decentralisation was the brainchild in 2003 of then Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy
Confirming that the plan to bring the IAA to Shannon had been scrapped, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar said that decentralisation was “one of the most deranged and costly political adventures undertaken by any government in recent history”
