PRESS RELEASE

29 April 2010

ENV 10/09/10

Assembly Committee calls for urgent consultation with Planning Service employees about proposed redeployment

At its meeting today the Assembly Committee for the Environment called for the Department of the Environment to consult urgently with its employees and trade unions about proposed measures to redeploy staff in the Planning Service.

Members of the Committee recognised the sensitivities of this redeployment process and urged the Minister to review the current proposals to ensure that the Planning Service will be able to deliver an efficient service and that staff skills and expertise are not irretrievably lost.

Committee Chairperson, Cathal Boylan, MLA said, “It is important that the Minister realises that morale in the Planning Service will suffer when people’s jobs are in question. It is essential the Department consults with staff and ensures that the redeployment scheme is fair and meets equality obligations.

“We also want to see the Department acknowledge that location is hugely important, especially for those living in the more remote areas and wherever possible it ensures that location issues are taken into account.”

The Committee awaits the full report on the realignment from the Department and will be seeking further clarification of the situation after this.

ENDS

Committee Membership:
Ms. Cathal Boylan (Chairperson)
Mr. Dominic Bradley (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr. Roy Beggs
Mr. Jonathan Bell
Mr. John Dallat
Mr. Danny Kinahan
Mr. Ian McCrea
Mr. Daithi McKay
Mr. Alastair Ross
Mr. Peter Weir
Mr. Brian Wilson

Media enquiries to:
Jennifer Pleavin
Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly
Phone: 028 9052 1606
Mobile : 07502 379339
Email: jennifer.pleavin@niassembly.gov.uk

Sinead Murphy
Deputy Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly
Phone: 028 9052 5938
Mobile : 07899 864368
Email: sinead.murphy@niassembly.gov.uk