THE Housing Executive has this week confirmed that it is carrying out a review of its grants service in Northern Ireland.
Last week, it emerged that staff at the Housing Executive’s grants office in Enniskillen had been informed by email of proposals to move them to Omagh.
Staff at the local office, currently based on the top floor of the Housing Executive’s district office in Enniskillen, claimed they were not consulted about the “proposed realignment” with their counterparts in the Tyrone town.
Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP, Tom Elliott, branded the proposals as “illogical” and sought a meeting with Minister of Communities, Paul Givan, to discuss the realignment.
Concerns were also raised at the monthly meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. Members agreed to make representations to the Housing Executive board.
In response to local concerns about the future of the grants office in Enniskillen, the Housing Executive said it was currently reviewing its grants service across the province.
A spokesperson said: “The central part of the review is considering customer needs, with a view to shortening process times and delivering the service to customers in their own homes, rather than requiring them to visit one of our offices.
“The review has taken into account wider local government changes across Northern Ireland. In this instance we are proposing that we realign the boundaries of grants offices to make them coterminous with the council boundaries.”
The spokesperson said that the review was also looking at whether the Housing Executive could amalgamate some of its grants back-office services.
“This proposal is still under consideration and we will confirm our position following the consultation we are currently undertaking,” she added.