McIntyre Calls on West Tyrone MP to Clarify his position on 800 Jobs

SDLP Derg candidate for the new Strabane/Derry 'Super Council', Jim McIntyre has called on Sinn Fein MP, Pat Doherty and the three Sinn Fein MLA's to clarify their position on the decision of their Minister, Michelle O'Neill to relocate 800 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Jobs to Ballykelly after Strabane ranked number 1 on the assessment criteria! Strabane scored 73 while Ballykelly scored 14 points less, with just 59.

During Questions to Minister O'Neill at last week's question time, the Minister confirmed she was now in a position to 'sign off' on a business case, which will justify her position to relocate the jobs to Ballykelly. The Minister also stated that Ballykelly was still her 'preferred location' for the new DARD headquarters, which will house 800 employees.

Mr McIntyre said; "It will soon be two years since Strabane was overlooked as the new home to 800 DARD positions, despite an in-depth report deeming our district as the most suitable location in the North."

"Strabane topped the poll for all the wrong reasons, but at least there was a realisation, following the report that Strabane has been the forgotten council area and needed immediate attention from the Executive. Unfortunately Strabane being one of the highest unemployment areas in the UK wasn't enough for Sinn Fein. This is one pill the People of Strabane should not swallow lightly."

"I am calling on Pat Doherty, the MP for this constituency to explain his position, with the three Sinn Fein MLA's and explain why their Minister did not follow the findings of that report and locate all 800 jobs in Strabane as advised. Does the West Tyrone MP, who was the parliamentary under-secretary for the Minister when the decision was reached, agree with his Ministers decision to discriminate the Strabane people? Let's be clear, the decision was not made by the Executive but by the Minister alone."

Mr McIntyre continued; "Is Ballykelly Sinn Fein's preferred location and how do they feel as representatives elected by local people, about their Minister dismissing the people of Strabane without an explanation.  Sinn Fein has remained very quiet on this issue, is it obvious they have no intention of tackling Strabane's unemployment crisis even when they have the opportunity to do so.

Today I am calling for answers, I would ask that Pat Doherty MP clarify Sinn Fein's position immediately. The Strabane people are waiting and deserve an answer.