A MAJOR decentralisation plan for the Defence Forces is in serious doubt as plans for a new office have been delayed due to lack of money.

Under the controversial plan, it had been hoped to move both the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces Headquarters to new premises in Co Kildare.

Plans are well underway for the department to move to newly-constructed premises at Station Road in Newbridge. Construction of that complex is almost completed and the offices could be occupied as soon as the new year by Departmental staff and around 55 military personnel.

However, no work has taken place on a proposed new base for the Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ) in the Curragh Camp in Co Kildare.

According to military sources, the plans – as implemented – will only serve to leave the department's long-term offices on Infirmary Road half-empty.

A statement from the Department of Defence said: "Procurement on the new building for DFHQ is also being handled by the Office of Public Works.

"A state-owned site has been identified in the Curragh, planning permission has been granted and a short-list of tenderers has been drawn up."

With no firm date set for construction of the Defence Forces HQ, the decentralisation plan now remains in limbo with serious doubts about its future. Military sources said it had been a "disaster".

One source said: "Effectively, the plan has only been half implemented so we will be left with a half-empty building in Dublin and a brand new building in Kildare, which was not really necessary in the first place.

The Department of Defence said: "The future plans for the use of our premises in Infirmary Road and Mobhi Road following our move to Newbridge is a matter that should be addressed to the OPW."