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€21m Buncrana building unveiled
21.10.09
by Liam Porter, Inishowen Independent
FINISHING touches were being applied this week to
Buncrana’s new €21 million decentralised offices
with the first workers set to take up their posts
there early next week.
Work on the new building commenced towards the end
of 2007 and the first staff members to be allocated
to jobs there are expected to take up their posts on
schedule early next week.
Spokesperson for the Department of Social and Family
Affairs, Oonagh Duffy, confirmed to the Inishowen
Independent that the assignment of staff to Buncrana
will commence from 27th October.
“Under the Government’s Programme of
Decentralisation, 118 posts in the Department of
Social and Family Affairs are to be relocated to
Buncrana. The assignment of staff to Buncrana will
commence from 27th October and it is proposed to
relocate the Local Office, currently based in Castle
Avenue, Buncrana, to the new Government Offices
during the week commencing 14th November 2009.” |
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The new building will
also house the new Garda HQ and although local
Gardai were unable to confirm yesterday when they
would re-locate from their temporary base at
Lisfannon, it is believed that they will also move
to their new headquarters in November. |
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News of the office
opening has been described as a terrific boost for
Buncrana by the town’s Mayor Lee Tedstone.
“Anything that leads to more foot traffic in
Buncrana has to be welcomed and I’m hoping that in
the years ahead this could provide even more local
employment for the town.”
The Mayor said he was particularly pleased that the
Gardai would be soon back in the town at their new
offices.
“I met with the Superintendent several times over
the summer and as a result we managed to have town
patrols resumed. It will be great to see Gardai back
in the heart of the town, it will be great in terms
of local confidence and crime prevention.”
Meanwhile the Mayor has also urged local businesses
to interact with the occupants of the new offices
and look for new opportunities.
“They should do all they can to make the new workers
welcome to the town and let them know what a great
place Buncrana is.”
Meanwhile Seantor Cecilia Keaveney has also welcomed
the news that the new offices are to open soon.
“The staff in the various offices in Buncrana had
won awards for their ability to deliver on their
work under the sub-standard conditions they had been
based in. It will be a huge change for them to move
into the purpose built facility and get settled into
the long awaited improvement in working
environment,” concluded Senator Keaveney. |
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