Efficiency savings should not equate to 'cuts'-Mickey Brady

Sinn Féin Newry and Armagh MLA Mickey Brady has questioned the use by Ministers of the efficiency savings requirement as a pretence to introduce staff reductions and service cuts.

The MLA said that whilst he recogonised the need for efficiency savings in Departmental spending regimes, he did not believe that Ministers should be using this requirement to camouflage cuts in services as both Michael McGimpsey in announcing reductions in Ambulance cover and  Margaret Ritchie in announcing redundancies in the Housing Executive under the guise of efficiency savings had done.

"Efficiency savings should be about maintaining the optimum level of front line services while simultaneously reducing waste and duplication thereby ensuring value for money. Meeting of the efficiency targets through reduction in services and staff redundancies - whether voluntary or otherwise - is the easy option which will in the long-term lead only to less efficient delivery" said Mickey.

HEARTY - "AMBULANCE CUTS FURTHER CAUSE FOR CONCERN IN RELATION TO SOUTH ARMAGH COVER"

Sinn Féin Newry and Mourne Slieve Gullion Councillor Terry Hearty has expressed deep concern at stories in the media recently regarding cuts to the ambulance service.

The Slieve Gullion area Councillor who has led a campaign in relation to Ambulance cover in south Armagh stated "The Ambulance Service plays a vital and unquestionable role in our Health Service and this news comes as a great shock. It is particularly worrying for those people living in rural areas who are already concerned at the response times of ambulances within their communities" and he continued "The whole issue of Ambulance cover for south Armagh alone now takes an added dimension as the roll out of these "cuts" and how they will impact on all areas become known".

Commenting on reports in relation to the introduction of Rapid Response Vehicles, to replace Ambulance appliances, Newry and Armagh MLA Mickey Brady stated "At this stage it is unclear whether or not the proposed Rapid Response Vehicles will be able to meet the demands placed on the Ambulance Service and it is something that needs looked at very carefully right across the board, from the Department, to the Ambulance Service to the trade unions."

Boylan raises fuel cost for commuters and need for public sector relocation

Sinn Féin MLA, Cathal Boylan, has raised the issue of fuel mileage allowances available to civil servants who travel each day to work with the Minister for Finance and Personnel, asking if he would consider raising the amount which can be claimed in light of the spiralling cost of diesel and petrol.

In response Minister Dodds stated he was committed to ensuring civil servants are ‘…properly reimbursed…’ and that he ‘… has asked his officials to review current rates in order to determine if they are still appropriate…’

Following on from this initial reply the Newry and Armagh Assembly member then asked ‘That given the current fuel crisis and the commitment to combat Climate Change and protect the Environment, would the Minister agree that it is imperative that the relocation of public sector jobs throughout the North – not only to deal with those concerns, but also with the imbalance in the distribution of jobs- should be given serious consideration by the Executive.’

The Minister replied that this wider issue was currently subject to a review by George Bain and he hoped proposals would be brought forward as quickly as possible, and that people travelling in their own cars and fuel costs would be one of the issues which would be taken into account in the review.

Commenting, Cathal Boylan said, ‘The rising cost of fuel is making it very difficult for everyone at this moment, especially those who depend on their cars to travel to and from work. Anything which can be done to alleviate this extra financial burden will be welcomed. On the broader picture of the regional imbalance in public sector jobs, this issue is further proof that it makes sense to relocate jobs throughout the North saving people the cost of fuel and helping to cut back on the environmental effects of less use of cars.’