THE Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) say that no jobs have been lost as a result of the decision to downgrade Enniskillen courthouse to hearing centre status, but have confirmed this week that four staff have been transferred from Fermanagh to Omagh as a result of the change.

Since the beginning of August this year, the historic building on East Bridge Street has been operating as a hearing centre and is only open to the public on scheduled court hearing days. With the staff now based at Omagh courthouse, Justice Minister, Claire Sugden, said that an “appropriate number” attend Enniskillen on court days to resource the hearings and the public counter.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council had written to the Justice Minister last month seeking clarification on the savings resulting from the re-designation. In her reply, she said that the annual savings were estimated to be around £26,000, arising from “reduced security and other contracted services”.

“Actual savings realised will not be known until current arrangements have been in place for a more substantial period,” she added.

The Minister further stated that the main benefit of the change was the “additional flexibility” from having additional staff located in Omagh two days a week.

“This allows for more effective pooling of resources to carry out administrative duties,” she said.

At the September monthly meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Enniskillen representative Howard Thornton said it was a “fairly pathetic” that the Minister was realising savings of £26,000.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Thornton stated that this was another case of jobs being lost from Fermanagh, with the staff already being transferred to Omagh.

He said that the transfer of court staff jobs had been “another stab in the back” for civil service jobs in Fermanagh, bearing in mind the loss of jobs in the Driver Vehicle Licensing office and other proposed losses in the Housing Executive and the Social Security offices.

He added: “Where is this trend going to stop and why are these experienced staff not being provided behind counter roles that can be conducted at any location? Where is the alleged rural-proofing of jobs by Stormont?”

In response to the council’s concerns, an NICTS spokesperson said: “There have been no jobs lost within Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) as a result of the change in opening days at Enniskillen courthouse. Upon designation as a hearing centre from August 1, four court staff posts transferred from Enniskillen to Omagh courthouse.”

The spokesperson added: “When the court office is open it continues to support the same range of business and the same services as it always has. Despite the change in opening hours at Enniskillen court users can continue to seek advice on any aspect of court business by contacting Omagh courthouse which is open five days a week.”