A new North West Executive subgroup has been established.

SDLP Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan MLA has welcomed the news and said the dire economic predicament of the North–West is something that has been crying out for intervention for years and an issue he has raised since joining the Executive.

Mr Durkan said: "The meeting was a positive one, with good news from the DEL minister about Magee and a collective recognition of what needs to be done. Given the importance of our infrastructure, I outlined the crucial role that DRD has to play in Derry's revitalisation and proposed that the DRD Minister attends all future meetings.

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"There has been an indication that money could once more be available from the Irish Government towards the A5 but I said the A6 Derry to Belfast road needs to be upgraded as a matter of urgency.

"I have asked that we explore the opportunities that could come with designation as an Enterprise Zone, which was recently given to Coleraine, and possibly in a City Deal – virtually allowing Derry to prioritise where its fair share of public money is spent.

"I also underlined the role that ministers themselves could play through the decentralisation of government jobs. I have recently deployed 30 posts here and if all ministers could do something similar it would be a great start. I believe that the difficulties facing the Executive in terms of the massive savings that have to be made could actually create new opportunities to ensure its workforce is more balanced regionally."

(CD/JP)