'Ballykelly move a huge step in redressing imbalance'

The decentralisation of a major government department to Ballykelly is a huge step in addressing historical regional imbalances in the distribution of public sector jobs, Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Brenda Chivers, has said.

Cllr Chivers was speaking after the official opening of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) headquarters in the County Derry village.

She said: “The move by my party leader Michelle O'Neill as former Agriculture Minister to decentralise her departmental headquarters to Ballykelly was a positive step for the North West in addressing historical regional imbalances in the distribution of public sector jobs," she commented.

The Sinn Fein representative said: "Sinn Féin is committed to tackling the regional imbalances in our economy created through decades of neglect and under-investment, this includes decentralisation of public sector jobs. I look forward to more staff being located to the new headquarters over the next number of years through the relocation plan." ENDS/CRÍOCH

Photo shows Mayor Brenda Chivers and Councillor Dermot Nicholl at the DAERA headquarters.