Rathkeltair House plans to facilitate more workers

Rathkeltair House plans to facilitate more workers

23 June 2021

DOWNPATRICK’S new civil service hub is to be expanded to allow even more people to work closer to home.

Rathkeltair House is one of a number of new regional hubs which have been established across Northern Ireland which allow public sector staff who live locally to have the opportunity of working in Downpatrick via so-called ‘hot desks’ instead of travelling to Belfast or other major towns far from home.

There are plans for a number of regional hubs across the province over the next few years with initial suggestions that up to 50  staff will be able to opt to work at Rathkeltair House where there is available space to accommodate them. That number is now set to increase.

During the coronavirus crisis, there was an unprecedented shift in how the civil service operated with many public services being delivered remotely, with the regional hubs viewed as developments that would have a positive impact on local economies, the environment as well as the health and wellbeing of staff.

In March, the Department of Finance confirmed that it was working collaboratively with district councils to maximise the local regeneration impact and to establish the new regional hubs as soon as possible. 

This week, it has been confirmed that Stormont finance minister Conor Murphy has paved the way for the regional hub located at Market Street in Downpatrick to be expanded to meet the needs of those who want to work closer to home post-Covid.

The minister’s commitment has been welcomed by South Down MP Chris Hazzard, who met recently with Mr Murphy and Newry, Mourne and Down Council chief executive Marie Ward to

discuss the opportunity of enhancing the ability of local civil service staff to work closer to home. 

Mr Hazzard said the finance minister has given an assurance that the new civil service hub will be available to all staff, who want to avail of the option to ‘hot-desk’ from Rathkeltair house instead of travelling to Belfast every day.

“I welcome the proactive approach the minister has taken in developing this hub and he has given his assurance that it will be allowed to grow and develop to meet local demand,” explained Mr Hazzard.

“He noted the hub presently has the capacity to house three times the workforce and anticipates numbers will grow exponentially as people return from working from home.”

Mr Hazzard said that more than one third of all civil service staff live outside the greater Belfast area, with many coming from Downpatrick and the wider East Down area. 

“This is the type of proactive service provision that supports workers, especially young families,” he continued. “It increases the capacity for the civil service to diversify its workforce to include the likes of young parents who may not have been able to commit to a commute to Belfast.”

Mr Hazzard said this “changing dynamic” will ensure opportunities arise for previously underrepresented groups when jobs become available.

“The positive impact of the regional jobs hub in Downpatrick will work for the betterment of society as a whole,” he continued.

The MP said the benefits of staff working close to home are reduced travel times, which benefits the environment in terms of reduced carbon emissions, an improved work/life balance and welcome spin-off for Downpatrick and its economy.

Mr Hazzard added: “The benefits of working locally are huge for the town centre retail and hospitality providers, especially as we start to rebuild our local economy in a post-Covid environment.

“I was also happy to hear a commitment from both the Minister and Mrs Ward that the council and civil service will work towards a reciprocal agreement to facilitate collaborative working throughout our civic hubs. This opportunity will encourage further regional working and cooperation with the ability to share meeting spaces and ideas.”