50 new jobs for Downpatrick with fisheries division

50 new jobs for Downpatrick with fisheries division

28 January 2015

THE Department of Agriculture is relocating around 50 jobs from Belfast to the Downshire Civic Centre in Downpatrick this summer.

The government department is moving its fisheries division from Dundonald House to the Downshire site where the Housing Executive and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service already have bases. Down Council’s headquarters are also located at the complex.

The plan to relocate the fisheries jobs to Downpatrick was announced some time ago, but the government department has now confirmed the fisheries officials will be in their new base in June.

The news has been welcomed by South Down MP Margaret Ritchie and South Down MLA Chris Hazzard.

Miss Ritchie said she is delighted that “at long last” action is being taken to relocate the fisheries division staff from Belfast to Downpatrick. She said it’s vitally important to secure local jobs in the public sector in South Down.

The MP confirmed Land and Property Services, through the Department of Finance’s Properties Division, has completed negotiations with Down Council and agreed the leasing arrangements for accommodation at the Downshire site.

Miss Ritchie added: “A draft business case, subject to the necessary approvals, is currently being completed and senior Department of Agriculture officials have informed me the project remains on target and they expect the fisheries division to be relocated by June. I look forward to the completion of the project.”

Mr. Hazzard, who met recently with Miss O’Neill to discuss the relocation of the fisheries jobs to Downpatrick and the work of the Fisheries Taskforce — which involves and industry and fisheries officials — said he has been assured everything is on track for the move to the Downshire site.

“The Minister has confirmed progress is being made on a weekly basis and that the relocation of the fisheries division will take place as planned in June,” he continued.

Turning to the work of the Fisheries Taskforce, Mr. Hazzard said it has published an interim report on what he described as “areas of mutual benefit.”

The MLA added: “Three main recommendations are that highly selective fishing gear trials should continue until 2019 to assist the industry with landing obligations, that DARD starts to develop a case for further flexibilities in landing obligations with the EU Commission and that the government department carries out an assessment of the balance between available fishing capacity and the fishing opportunities for the Irish Sea prawn fleet during 2015.”

Mr. Hazzard said Miss O’Neill has confirmed her officials are now looking over the recommendations and hope to issue a response within the next month.