IPI: Job Cuts in the NI Planning Service will Affect Economic Recovery
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
IRISH PLANNING INSTITUTE
Press Release Issued 23/5/2010
JOB CUTS IN PLANNING SERVICE WILL AFFECT ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Proposed cutbacks of professional planners in the Northern Ireland Planning Service will hinder economic recovery, the Executive has been warned.
The Irish Planning Institute (IPI), which represents professional planners, has added its strong criticism to the decision of the Northern Ireland Environment Minister, Mr Edwin Poots MLA, to reduce the workforce of the Planning Service by more than 270 posts and to relocate staff to alterative positions within other Government Departments.
Mr Gerry Sheeran, President of the Institute said: “I am dismayed that over a third of the hardworking staff of the Northern Ireland Planning Service are to be shed. This is a massive blow to the staff, the Service and ultimately the economy.
“This decision will inevitably result in a return to the days of backlogs of applications and poor enforcement control. Moreover it could well sound the death knell for new style local spatial plans which were due to be prepared for the first time by district councils. This could leave a number of towns across the north with a lack of a clear vision as to how places should be shaped and economic recovery delivered.”
Mr Sheeran stated that the proposed scale of redeployment be urgently reconsidered by Minister Poots. He welcomed recent comments by the Chair of Stormont’s Environment Committee, Cathal Boylan who recognised the need for efficiencies, but advised that this should not just be translated as cuts. Rather Mr Boylan indicated that there is a need for a Planning Service that is fit for purpose and that delivers on the ground in a way that serves people and contributes to economic recovery.
Mr Sheeran added: “I have written to the Minister to voice the Irish Planning Institute’s concerns. I stressed that planning officials in Northern Ireland continue to face higher levels of workload than their equivalents in Great Britain - a matter highlighted in a recent Northern Ireland Audit Office Report on planning. His proposal to redeploy staff will simply make matters worse, as faced with increasing social, economic and environmental challenges, it is clear that the need for a properly resourced planning service is more acute than it ever was.”
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Issued on behalf of the IPI by Tony O’Brien Communications - 087.2438584
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