100 temporary jobs for DVA

Up to 100 temporary jobs could be provided for motor tax workers in Coleraine.

It comes as 300 positions at the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) are set to be axed on July 21 as services are moved from County Hall in the town to Swansea.

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland said: “My Department has identified a number of potential areas of work which could assist up to 100 staff until the end of this year.

“I have arranged for officials to meet with their counterparts [last]Friday with a view to exploring potential areas of work that could support up to 100 posts on a short term basis through to December this year which would be located in Coleraine.

“My officials have been working hard to explore every possible opportunity to assist those staff in Coleraine who have been affected by the decision to centralise vehicle registration and licensing services in Swansea and will continue to look at further opportunities going forward.

“The staff affected by this decision are in a very real and very difficult position.

“I would hope to be in a position to provide the details of these opportunities within the next few weeks.

“The position in Coleraine is a priority for all Departments and one that I know all my Ministerial colleagues and I are committed in trying where possible to find solutions.”

“DVA workers will take heart from today’s announcement”, commented NIPSA Assistant Secretary Ryan McKinney.

Mr McKinney went on to say: “We welcome this positive development which comes after the DOE Minister permanently reallocated work for 50 staff to Coleraine.

“Clearly. if the will is there then solutions can be found, what we now want to see is a long term solution which will see all staff retained in Coleraine.

“This is what all parties, the local community and businesses have said they want and what the union representing staff has campaigned for.

“Whether there are more than 50 workers in County Hall Coleraine in 2015 is up to this Executive to decide.”

The Department of the Environment has said it will move 70 Civil Service posts to Coleraine to lessen the impact of job losses. Minister Mark H Durkan has been working with the UK minister for transport to secure 12 additional new jobs, funded by the DVLA in Swansea.

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