To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline how the establishment of her departmental headquarters in Ballykelly will stimulate both rural development and the local economy in East Londonderry.

Mrs O'Neill

With your permission, a LeasCheann Comhairle, I will answer questions 5 and 9 together. On 26 June, the First Minister and the deputy First Minister conveyed agreement to the relocation of my departmental headquarters to Ballykelly. The project is now proceeding and involves a new build to accommodate 400 workstations to be completed by the end of 2017 and an extension to accommodate a further 200 workstations to be completed by the end of 2020. My officials continue to liaise with OFMDFM, DFP and other Departments and agencies about the design, planning, construction and access arrangements. The current programme plan indicates that the tender for the construction phase will be awarded at the end of 2015. The relocation of my Department to Ballykelly will stimulate rural development and the local economy through increased local spending, provision of high-quality and high-value public sector jobs and, potentially, jobs associated with the construction and ongoing servicing of the new accommodation. That will be a welcome boost to the construction industry. It will help to share wealth across the economy, contribute to better-balanced economic growth and help to address disparities in the distribution of public sector jobs across the North.

Mr Beggs

The Minister, along with the First Minister and the deputy First Minister, appears indifferent to the possible poor use of our limited public funds. Why has a full cost-benefit analysis not been published to ensure good practice? Will she ensure that money is spent in the most efficient way and we minimise the money that has to be spent on buildings and future travel costs? Does she accept that, in getting there, there should be agreement with the Department of Finance and Personnel? Indeed, has her accounting officer agreed with this proposal?

Mrs O'Neill

I will work in reverse. My accounting officer is working to my direction. The Executive have agreed to the movement of DARD to Ballykelly, and I am committed to taking that project forward. We have a programme board in place; it is full speed ahead, and work is ongoing. We are working closely with staff on staff planning and moving forward. We have a business case, which has cleared all DARD's internal assurance processes. Executive approval was given on 26 June. I can say no more; it is as clear as that.

Mrs O'Neill

I absolutely agree. DFP and the Executive, as the owners of the site, are keen to explore that. Once we had made the decision, it was evident that there were a lot more people with an interest in the site. There are massive potential benefits for the north-west, not just because of the public sector jobs that are coming but because of everything else that will flow from it. I am absolutely happy, in planning and moving forward, to work with the local community because the benefits for that community are clear to be seen, particularly around construction and the increased footfall for the area. I am happy for that to be the case.

Mr G Robinson

Does the Minister agree that the potential jobs boost and economic stimulus through the use of the entire site at Ballykelly, including her Department's headquarters, which my colleague Gregory Campbell and I strongly lobbied for, will be a vital aspect of the economic recovery of the north-west of Northern Ireland and even further afield?

Mrs O'Neill

I absolutely agree that there will be a knock-on impact. The core of this is that we will have a fair distribution of public sector jobs. Those jobs will be a boost to the north-west, to the local construction industry and to Ballykelly itself, where there will be an increased footfall. The potential on that site is fantastic, and it will be a really good news story that will trickle down over the years to come. When DARD moves, the other things will follow. It is absolutely a good news story for the north-west.

Mr Dallat

I thank the Minister for her response. Given that this is a major element in the redevelopment of the Shackleton site, has she had any discussions with the Minister for Regional Development about establishing a railway point, which would clearly be of enormous benefit to so many people?

Mrs O'Neill

Yes, I have met the Regional Development Minister, and we have had discussions. It is a great idea. It is not without its problems or challenges, but that is being explored by the Regional Development Minister and his officials, so we look forward to maybe some positive outcomes from that. It was very evident from the first discussions that we had that there were a number of challenges with timings in the north-west, but it is still under consideration, and maybe we will have something positive from that.

Mr McMullan

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Minister, I am sure you will agree that the benefits of relocation far outstrip the negativity of some of the arguments put against the planned relocation of the headquarters.

Mrs O'Neill

Yes. As I said, the economic benefits are clear to be seen: the jobs stimulus; the ongoing servicing of the building; the construction of the building; the knock-on impact for the local economy; and the follow-through with other businesses coming to that site. It is all going to be of tremendous benefit to the north-west. For me, this is about a fairer distribution of public sector jobs, and it is about stimulating that local economy. It is also about bringing DARD closer to its rural roots. For me, the opportunity that we have to be the first Department to move lock, stock and barrel into the north-west is to be welcomed. Maybe it is something that other Ministers will consider in any moves in the future, making sure that they create employment in rural areas and opportunities for those in the public service.

Mr Lyttle

Given the costs involved and the level of objection from Belfast staff to this significant relocation, is this really a proposal with which the Minister should persist? Can she give us reassurances that it is not going to cause utter chaos in the delivery of the functions of her Department?

Mrs O'Neill

On the views of staff, I outlined this before: it was taken forward in a number of phases. The headquarters staff in Dundonald House, given that it has been there for 50 years, is predominantly made up of people who live in the greater Belfast area and it is only natural that, when it comes to change, those people may not want to move. That is why we had a long lead-in time and are phasing it in to allow for those staff changes to happen. That is being done in full consultation with the unions and staff side representatives. That is the only way we are going to be successful. This is a wider project even than DARD in staff and public sector movement. This is about new ways of working and working right across all Departments. After the initial survey with just DARD staff, we went out to the wider departmental staff and to the wider Civil Service, and there are more than enough people who want to pursue opportunities closer to home to give them a better work/life balance. It is only right that they should also have the opportunity to achieve promotion, and not have to come to the greater Belfast area to be able to get that. So, I am confident that we are able to manage the staff issues, in full consultation with them and their union representatives, in moving forward. The phased process that we have stepped out fairly clearly allows us to do that.