AQW 54292/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 15/02/2016
Answered On Date: 25/02/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for an update on work to relocate her Department's Headquarters to Ballykelly in 2017, including progress on the decentralisation of jobs to the area.

Answer:

The project to relocate my departmental headquarters to Ballykelly remains on target to complete the first phase of construction by the end of 2017.

Planning permission was granted by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council at their meeting on 24th February 2016. The approved design included the construction of a new access road.

The tender evaluation process has been completed and now that planning permission has been secured my officials will work with Central Procurement Directorate to award the contract to the successful contractor.

NICS accommodation in the northwest (Orchard House, Derry and County Hall, Coleraine) is already being utilised to allow for up to 100 posts to move to the northwest in advance of the new headquarters being ready in December 2017.

I am grateful to you for taking the time to write to me on this important issue.