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| 5,000 workers 'to move' from city | 5,000 workers 'to move' from city |
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| At least 5,000 public sector jobs should be moved out of Belfast as part of a decentralisation plan, a report has said. | At least 5,000 public sector jobs should be moved out of Belfast as part of a decentralisation plan, a report has said. |
| The independent review, by Professor Sir George Bain, said the jobs should go to six locations including Londonderry, Newry and Ballymena. | The independent review, by Professor Sir George Bain, said the jobs should go to six locations including Londonderry, Newry and Ballymena. |
| Sir George said the relocation could create "better economic balance" in Northern Ireland. | Sir George said the relocation could create "better economic balance" in Northern Ireland. |
| The Department of Agriculture is among 13 organisations which could move. | |
| The plan would require the agreement of the executive. | The plan would require the agreement of the executive. |
| Sir George said any relocation should be introduced on a phased basis. | Sir George said any relocation should be introduced on a phased basis. |
| A number of pilot projects would initially see up to 4,000 jobs being moved out of Belfast. | A number of pilot projects would initially see up to 4,000 jobs being moved out of Belfast. |
| "Our primary consideration is better regional economic balance, ensuring that there is sufficient critical mass to absorb and sustain employment over time and create a coherent career structure for public servants in local areas," said Sir George. | "Our primary consideration is better regional economic balance, ensuring that there is sufficient critical mass to absorb and sustain employment over time and create a coherent career structure for public servants in local areas," said Sir George. |
| "We believe that these locations and organisations provide this not only for the towns and cities selected but, importantly, the surrounding areas." | "We believe that these locations and organisations provide this not only for the towns and cities selected but, importantly, the surrounding areas." |
| The review team recommended that public sector jobs should be relocated to six locations: | The review team recommended that public sector jobs should be relocated to six locations: |
| • Ballymena | • Ballymena |
| • Coleraine | • Coleraine |
| • Craigavon | • Craigavon |
| • Londonderry | • Londonderry |
| • Newry | • Newry |
| • Omagh | • Omagh |
| Finance and Personnel Minister Nigel Dodds said he wanted to get the views of the executive. | Finance and Personnel Minister Nigel Dodds said he wanted to get the views of the executive. |
| "There are a number of detailed suggestions contained in the report that will need careful examination and consideration before decisions on a way forward can be reached." | "There are a number of detailed suggestions contained in the report that will need careful examination and consideration before decisions on a way forward can be reached." |
| The organisations which could be relocated include the Victims and Survivors Commission; Charities Commission; Education and Skills Authority Headquarters; the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Northern Ireland Water Headquarters. | The organisations which could be relocated include the Victims and Survivors Commission; Charities Commission; Education and Skills Authority Headquarters; the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Northern Ireland Water Headquarters. |
| John Corey, the general secretary of the NIPSA trade union, said he welcomed the recommendations. | |
| "NIPSA has long supported the principle of a fair distribution of public service jobs across Northern Ireland as a means of improving equal opportunities," he said. | |
| "At the same time it is imperative that the interests and rights of existing civil service and public service staff are fully protected." | |
| The Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew said it made "absolute sense" for her department to be relocated. | |
| "We need to be as close to the people we serve as possible and to the heart of the community and I want to work as | |
| closely as we can with the rural community." |