Town named among new civil service hubs

OMAGH is to be the venue for one of 10 regional hubs aimed at allowing civil servants to work at a so-called hot desk rather than having to travel full-time to offices near Stormont.

The scheme was announced yesterday (Wednesday) by the Finance Minister, Conor Murphy and will come into effect next year.

The hubs will offer a local office environment to civil servants who will in turn contribute to the local economy.

President of Omagh Chamber of Commerce, Colm Broderick, welcomed the scheme and said it would be appropriate of the new ‘hot-desk’ facilities were located within the town centre.

“This announcement is good news for Omagh and there is ample vacant space within our town centre which would be ideal as the location for this new hub,” he said.

“My hope is that when this new facility comes to Omagh it will be in the town centre. If that is case, then it will provide a significant boost to many independent retailers.

“Every little helps and at a time when there has been little of cheer for almost a year, this is something which will be greeted as a positive development.”

West Tyrone Sinn Fein MLA, Orfhlaith Begley, said the hubs would contribute to the economic recovery from the pandemic, while also facilitating remote working.

“Minister Murphy visited Omagh last year and identified it as an area with a significanyt number of vacant sites. Since then I have been working with the Ministers for Finance and Communities to produce a Masterplan for Omagh’s vacant sites.

“This new hub will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of Omagh town, allowing for job creation and social development.”