Workers at the decentralised office, which has 420 employees, refused to answer phone calls.

The use of flexible, decentralised office spaces around cities like Dublin look set to rise.

The Department of Finance is seeking to restrict promotions in the Civil Service to staff who are willing to move to a decentralised office.

The Government today sought builders for multi-million euro contracts to construct decentralised offices for a total of 720 staff in Dungarvan, Edenderry, Roscommon and Tipperary.