Public Sector Job Locations Scrutinised

The N I Assembly is to look carefully – and 'transparently' – at the locations chosen for any new public bodies that result from the current Review of Public Administration.

Peter Robinson, the Finance Minister, said: “The implementation of the Review will involve the creation of a number of new public bodies in various sectors such as health and education.

"This could mean some relocation of public sector jobs across Northern Ireland," he said.

“I recognise that the location of public sector jobs has important implications for communities throughout Northern Ireland and it is therefore essential that the decisions are objective, fair and well informed," he continued, noting that a new - transparent - framework for these decisions is the way forward.

Mr Robinson said that in the short term this framework will provide a robust and transparent process for decisions on specific locations for the Review-related bodies.

“However, the Executive recognises the need to think about the longer term and put in place a more strategic approach to the location of public sector jobs.

"Therefore the Executive has agreed to a time-bound review of policy on the location of public-sector jobs in Northern Ireland," he continued, noting that the Executive will shortly be discussing the draft terms of reference for the review and that it will get underway as soon as possible thereafter.

(BMcC)