14 May 2003
NEW JOBS AND BENEFITS OFFICE HERALDS BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICES IN MAGHERAFELT
A £1.3m investment in a new Jobs and Benefits Office in Magherafelt demonstrates government’s continued commitment to social and financial inclusion, according to John Hunter, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Social Development.
Speaking at the official opening of the new facility that integrates the services provided by the Social Security Agency and the Department for Employment and Learning’s JobCentre, John Hunter said:
"Our joint effort and the improvements we have made to the services we provide, demonstrates to the people of Magherafelt our commitment to helping them receive the full support of the social security system and helping them finding work. These services will be offered with the customer in mind and our aim is to provide practical support in a friendly efficient environment."
Highlighting the roll out of similar Jobs and Benefits offices throughout Northern Ireland John Hunter said:
"The Jobs and Benefits initiative is part of an ambitious programme of reform, probably the biggest of its kind in Northern Ireland, but is just part of our overall programme. We also will be addressing issues around poverty, homelessness, social and financial inclusion and investing in our neighbourhood and towns."
Earlier John Hunter was welcomed to the Station Road office by Michelle O’Hagan, Social Security Agency office manager and Cathy Calderwood, JobCentre manager, and accompanied on a tour of the new office by Dr Robson Davison, Deputy Secretary at the Department for Employment and Learning.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The new office in Magherafelt is one of the 11 Jobs and Benefits offices throughout Northern Ireland. Plans are in place to convert the remaining offices to the new way of working over the next three years.
The office has 90 staff (60 SSA and 30 DEL)
The benefit Customer Base includes 4046 people including pensioners, sick or disabled, and lone parents. A further 395 people are on the Jobseeker programme.
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