Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie
N'Ards jobs boost chance
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
By Michael Bashford
Ards councillor, and trade and investment committee member, Simon Hamilton
has expressed his hope that a strategic business review by the Social
Security Agency could result in a major investment and creation of new jobs
in Newtownards.
Mr Hamilton's comments come after Social Development Minister Margaret
Ritchie outlined to him in an Assembly question that the Social Security
Agency is presently considering two sites in Newtownards for a combined Jobs
and Benefits Office, with the possible addition of a back office benefits
processing centre.
Welcoming the news, Mr Hamilton said: “The Social Security Agency is working
away at opening new combined Jobcentres and Social security Offices all
across Northern Ireland with the new Jobs & Benefits Offices already up
and running in places like Omagh, Enniskillen, Antrim and Coleraine.
“Newtownards is now in line for a Jobs & Benefits Office and according
to the Minister, the SSA are considering two sites in the town — one at the
existing Social Security Office in East Street and another within the
Castlebawn development.
“Wherever Newtownards' new Jobs & Benefits Office is located, a central
one stop shop makes sense and will obviously result in these important
services being offered to the public from modern, state of the art
accommodation. A single site will result in public servants being able to
provide jobs and benefits services in a much more simple and straightforward
way.”
In response to Mr Hamilton's assembly question, Ms Ritchie said: “Two sites,
the existing Social Security Office at East Street, Newtownards and a site
within the Castlebawn development are currently being considered.
“However, the agency is also carrying out a strategic business review to
examine how best to deliver services to the public in the future. The
outcome of this review will determine whether the Newtownards office will
provide a Jobs & Benefits service only or if it will also include a
(back-office) benefits processing centre. This will also impact on decisions
around the location of the office.”
