Covid-19: Derry-Strabane Council to consider ‘furloughing’ staff

The move follows the announcement that the furloughing - temporary leave - scheme is now available to all 11 councils across NI.

Derry & Strabane Council says it currently has not furloughed any of its staff and, at present, all Council staff continue to be in full employment within the organisation.

It’s understood the majority of staff, who are able to, are working from home, while those in critical services continue to provide vital essential public services.

Meanwhile, a significant number of staff have been redeployed to work in other essential services.

A Council spokesperson added: “Following the announcement earlier this week by the Minister for Communities that the furloughing scheme is available to all 11 Northern Ireland councils, Council is exploring this as an option with a proposal to possibly furlough some staff coming before elected members for consideration.”

It’s understood the matter could be discussed at a meeting of Council on Thursday.

Earlier today, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council revealed that it had furloughed more than 200 staff under the government’s Job Retention Scheme.

It’s understood furloughed staff will not be affected financially nor does it impact on their terms and conditions of employment.

Earlier in the week, Mid Ulster District Council said it was looking to furlough 350 staff,

Meanwhile, a spokepserson for the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) - the representative body for local authorities in NI - says local government’s response to Covid-19 has come at a “massive cost”.

“To say the situation facing councils is perilous is an understatement,” said Derek McCallan, its Chief Executive.

He says NI will need a transformed public sector and councils are just part of the solution - but “only if brave, radical, decisions, leading to cash for councils to survive, is provided”.