By Alan Healy
Deputy Editor
MORE than 70 civil servants will transfer out of their current offices in Derry to a new site in Ballykelly, the Derry News can reveal today.
The move will form part of what’s been described as one of the largest redeployments of government staff in Northern Ireland, which will see around 240 government staff take up residence at former Shackleton Army Barracks in Ballykelly, Co. Derry.
A total of 71 posts will relocate from Orchard House to the new Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) building in Ballykelly [artist's impression above] when it opens.
A spokesperson for DAERA said that, of these 71 posts, 48 had been ‘relocated to Orchard House on a temporary basis over the last two years in preparation for a permanent move to Ballykelly’.
The spokesperson added: “The remaining 23 posts were permanently located in Orchard House and are being relocated to Ballykelly in order to improve operational efficiency and the delivery of services.”
Foyle SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said last night: “This could have a detrimental impact on our local economy. There are also concerns about future of other civil service functions in Derry, and I would hope that these posts are not sucked out of the city for the purpose of filling out a quota.”
(See today's Derry News for full details)
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