Future of Social Security Offices and Staff in Down announced

Eddie McGrady MP has welcomed the news that the future of the Downpatrick Social Security Office, as one of 8 main processing centres in Northern Ireland, has been secured and that in addition to this staff will not be forced to move from Downpatrick to Newtownards but will have the option to retrain if they wish to stay in Downpatrick.

 The MP also welcomed the fact that for the time being this proosed change along with others will be postponed in order that the Department can undertake a pilot exercise in the Ballymena area to ensure that these changes will work in the ground.

The MP said;

 “The measured and responsive way in which the Minister for Social Development has approached these proposed changes must be commended and I feel that other Government Departments would do well to take example from this staged process. Changes to big organisations, like that of the Social Security Agency will have a large impact on the lives of both staff and customers. That is why it is important that the Minister responded to the concerns of staff and customers in this measured way.

The Minister has also announced that proposals on the future of the Kilkeel office are still being examined. This followed concerns that staff from here would have to travel long distances to the proposed main processing centres.

I am disappointed that future proposals would involve staff at the Newcastle office moving to Downpatrick, but in this process of change I feel this is the less harsh option, as travel distance should hopefully be achievable for the staff concerned. Further to this the presence of the Newcastle Social Security office for the local community has been secured, with work beginning on a new build office in the near future.

I also welcome the fact that face to face contact at the local offices will not be replaced by a telephone system and that no local office will close

All in all these revised proposals have been clearly worked-up in response to concerns from staff and customers and I await the outcome of the pilot study to assess if these proposed changes involve a better service on the ground for both staff and customers

Ends,.