Minister urged to act on jobs for Downshire

Minister urged to act on jobs for Downshire

16 October 2013

HEALTH Minister Edwin Poots is to be asked to use his influence to ensure Downpatrick does not miss out on a major public sector investment.

The news comes after South Down MP Margaret Ritchie voiced concern that a leading health organisation has opted to open a new centre in Belfast, and not at the Downshire

Civic Centre, to support its its huge operation across Northern Ireland.

The Business Services Organisation (BSO) provides a range of support services to the health and care sector and has already established four centres of excellence.

It is now planning to open a fifth centre which, much to the disappointment of Miss Ritchie, looks set to be based in Belfast.

She met with the BSO’s chief executive on Monday to make the case for the new centre to be located in Downpatrick and while the organisation wants to open its new base in the city, the South Down MP said it’s her understanding that the location has yet to be approved by Mr. Poots.

She is now seeking a meeting with the Health Minister to put forward what she described as the “very strong case that exists” for the new BSO centre to be based in Downpatrick.

The MP continued: “Downpatrick and in particular the new Downshire Civic Centre meets all of the required criteria to host a new Business Support Unit.

“Downpatrick can provide the accommodation, the ICT needs and the staff all within a very short timeframe at no additional cost to the taxpayer, as would be the case with capital build and refurbishment requirements in other areas.”

Miss Ritchie, who was joined at the meeting on Monday with BSO chief executive David Bingham by trade union officials, said the culture of centralising jobs to Belfast must be challenged. She believes Downpatrick is in a strong position to do this.

The MP said locating the BSO’s proposed new centre in Downpatrick would not only sustain current employment, but provide new job opportunities for the wider Down area.

Miss Ritchie added: “Downpatrick is a recognised centre for public administration and new buildings such as the Downshire Civic Centre would be eminently suitable for shared services operations.”