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