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Jobs go at Troubles murder team HET will continue 'crucial work'
(about 1 hour later)
The special police team set up to investigate murders during the troubles is to make 75 staff redundant because of a funding shortage. The director of the special police team set up to investigate murders during the troubles has said it will continue its "crucial work".
The Historical Enquiries Team was set-up in 2005 with a budget of £34m over six years. Staff at the Historical Enquiries Team found out on Thursday that 75 posts were to go due to a funding shortage.
Staff were told of the planned job cuts on Thursday.
They received emails informing them that the budget for next year was not sufficient for the team to operate at current staffing numbers.They received emails informing them that the budget for next year was not sufficient for the team to operate at current staffing numbers.
The HET was set-up in 2005 with a budget of £34m over six years.
"In the current economic environment, difficult decisions have to be be made and HET, as with other agencies, is facing financial pressures for the coming year," said Dave Cox, director of the Historical Enquiries Team.
"In view of that we have a responsibility to keep our team advised of the situation."
It is understood that the budget allocation for the next financial year is about £2.5m less than it cost to operate the team during the past 12 months.It is understood that the budget allocation for the next financial year is about £2.5m less than it cost to operate the team during the past 12 months.
The news comes just two weeks after job losses seemed to have been avoided when the Northern Ireland Office announced that it would provide an additional £1.5m for the rest of this financial year.The news comes just two weeks after job losses seemed to have been avoided when the Northern Ireland Office announced that it would provide an additional £1.5m for the rest of this financial year.
The DUP MP, Jeffrey Donaldson said it will impact on families who are relying on the Historical Enquiries Team.The DUP MP, Jeffrey Donaldson said it will impact on families who are relying on the Historical Enquiries Team.
"It seems that there is a hierarchy of victims here," he said."It seems that there is a hierarchy of victims here," he said.
"We've got on the one hand, somewhere approaching £200m spent on the Saville Inquiry, but we have hundreds of unsolved murder cases being reviewed by the HET and yet the amount available to them is much less.""We've got on the one hand, somewhere approaching £200m spent on the Saville Inquiry, but we have hundreds of unsolved murder cases being reviewed by the HET and yet the amount available to them is much less."
Staff were told that the 75 jobs would go early in 2009, and have been asked to register expressions of interest in taking voluntary redundancy.Staff were told that the 75 jobs would go early in 2009, and have been asked to register expressions of interest in taking voluntary redundancy.
It is understood that the team will lobby the government for additional funding.It is understood that the team will lobby the government for additional funding.
The Commission for Victims and Survivors challenged the government to prove its commitment to dealing with the past.The Commission for Victims and Survivors challenged the government to prove its commitment to dealing with the past.
"We hear weekly from people who have become deeply frustrated at the length of time HET takes to complete its investigations. This news will only make it worse," said Commissioner Mike Nesbitt."We hear weekly from people who have become deeply frustrated at the length of time HET takes to complete its investigations. This news will only make it worse," said Commissioner Mike Nesbitt.
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Office said the government was "fully committed" to the work of the HET.A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Office said the government was "fully committed" to the work of the HET.
"A total budget of £38.3m which includes a substantial budget of £5.9m for 2009/2010 clearly demonstrates this," she said."A total budget of £38.3m which includes a substantial budget of £5.9m for 2009/2010 clearly demonstrates this," she said.
"It is a matter for the Historical Enquiries Team how they structure and staff their work.""It is a matter for the Historical Enquiries Team how they structure and staff their work."