One of the overarching statements of the day from Ministers and repeated in some of the reporting, is the apparent savings. Though as one senior journalist pointed out to Slugger that there’s no calculation for the one off costs of the re-organisation. Where will the new headquarters be? How much extra building will be required to take the extra planning and road staff being moved out out the previously centralised Departments of Regional Development and Environment? What happens to several shiny new council headquarters now they are not needed? And what happens to the 10 ministries, now more of them will have few direct responsibilities left when the RPA finally takes effect in 2009?
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty