Press Release

Economy top of the agenda for cross party delegation to Stormont

Wednesday, 16th December 2009

A cross party delegation from Derry City Council will travel to Stormont on the 17th December, 2009 to meet with Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuiness, Minister for Department, Education and Learning, Reg Empey and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Arlene Foster.

The meeting is arranged to discuss economic interventions for the city and region, following a series of job losses in the local economy, earlier in the year. Mayor, Cllr Paul Fleming, who is leading the cross party delegation said:

“Commitments were made by Derry City Council to seek a series of interventions to stem the ongoing job losses in the local economy. These can only happen with support from the Executive. While the city consistently under performs in relation to workforce opportunities and experiences high levels of deprivation, it has significant strengths in its regional location, cultural diversity, community resilience and expanding retail, transport, heritage, education and marine infrastructure. At the meeting on Thursday is to identify a series of high-impact interventions that can be urgently progressed to improve the social, economic and financial performance of the city and region”.

The City is consistently ranked with in the three most deprived Local Government Districts in Northern Ireland, the working age employment rate is 8% below the Northern Ireland average and the claimant count is 7% with the North West region having the highest unemployment in Northern Ireland.

Representatives at the meeting will raise a number of suggested interventions that would create a stronger financial policy programme for the city, review existing funding commitments made for strategic projects in heritage, decentralisation of government jobs and social housing with a final range of new incentives to support ambitious initiatives for culture and education.

Mayor Cllr Paul Fleming concluded; “The city has a strong track record of partnership working within the city and with government. Recent progress with the Regeneration Plan and other social initiatives will establish a strong case for intervention and change and we are seeking commitments today from the Executive to progress these ideas with a proactive agenda moving forward”.

Ends

Press Office

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