Politician urges Invest NI to do more for local area

Politician urges Invest NI to do more for local area

24 May 2017

A SENIOR politician has called for potential overseas investors to be shown what the Newry, Mourne and Down Council area can offer them.

Councillor Dermot Curran is keen for Invest Northern Ireland to work alongside the local council in an effort to help attract new inward investment and hopes more public sector jobs can be transferred from Belfast to the Down area.

He said while the majority of overseas investment is ploughed into Belfast and Derry, he believes areas like Down District have much to offer and could be ideal for companies that specialise in a range of customer telephone services.

Councillor Curran believes there is scope to provide new business accommodation at the Downshire Civic Centre in Downpatrick and that the arrival of new investment will enhance its reputation.

“I would like to see increased focus on promoting what our district has to offer to potential investors,” he continued. “We need to forge a closer working relationship with Invest NI. Major investment goes to other parts of Northern Ireland and it is clear we have to work harder to change the mindset of investors.

“I believe we have so much to offer in terms of facilities and available workforce and with the help of Invest NI we can get this message across to potential investors.”

Councillor Curran is also keen that government departments at Stormont look to decentralise more staff from Belfast to rural areas. He said two years ago, the Department of Agriculture took a decision to relocate 50 fisheries staff from their Dundonald House base in Belfast to the Downshire Civic Centre.

“I hope more government departments will follow suit and we can fully exploit the potential the Downshire site offers to help further cement its place as a major hub of public service excellence,” he said.

Councillor Curran also pointed to a major survey conducted by the Northern Ireland Executive a number of years ago which revealed that 4,000 civil servants registered an interest in relocating from the Belfast area, with a quarter of those surveyed expressing a desire to work in Downpatrick.

He added: “We have the space at the Downshire site and I hope there is the political will to persuade more government departments to look at areas like Downpatrick and transfer jobs to boost the economy.

“Perhaps a major public sector public presence, alongside our excellent education facilities and available workforce, could tempt new private sector investment.”