Speaking on publication of the Bain Report into the relocation of public sector jobs, Mayor Chivers said the recommendations are a “step in the right direction”.

Mayor Chivers said: ”We in Sinn Féin within the Limavady Borough have written to the relevant Ministers to urge them to look at the Bain recommendations and in considering what is best to do for communities across the north, to consider Limavady as a prospective site for the relocation of public jobs."

The town recently lost hundreds of jobs with the closure of the Seagate plant in Limavady, and Mayor Chivers believes the area is right for investment because of its facilities and workforce.

"Sinn Féin has consistently supported the argument that public sector jobs should be more evenly spread across the Six Counties,” she said.

Bain

“The independent report from George Bain will be welcomed by the to many civil servants that live in rural communities, but travel into the Belfast for work, and also by the many groups and individuals who have campaigned for a more even distribution of economic investment across the North.”

Mayor Chivers said such “important issues” must be managed in a sensitive manner for the benefit of those entire public sector workers who may be affected by the recommendations in this report.

“That means sitting the key stakeholders down, the relevant departments and their agencies, workers, unions etc and working out the best way forward,” she said.

"The core argument in the Bain report, that public sector employment should be part of a broader move towards a balanced approach to regional and economic development across the north is one supported and long advocated by Sinn Fein.”