Forty staff at Enniskillen Jobs and Benefits Office have been given “a two year stay of execution” following a meeting between Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC) and the Department for Communities Deputy Secretary for Working Age, Tommy O’Reilly. However, Omagh Jobs and Benefits office looks set to close in the future.
The 40 back office staff in Enniskillen had voiced “grave concerns” that the new benefits system will result in less work, forcing them to commute to other offices across Northern Ireland in the near future.
Following the “robust” meeting, Mr. O’Reilly told Councillors that there would be no redeployments for a minimum of two years.
Recounting the meeting, UUP Councillor Howard Thornton said: “We got spin about ‘no redundancies’ in the Enniskillen Jobs and Benefits Office.
“That’s not good enough. Once these people are relocated, the jobs are gone and they are gone for good.
“The exodus of public sector jobs from Fermanagh has to stop.”
Councillors agreed with Mr. Thornton’s proposal that FODC request two meetings: one with Communities Minister Paul Givan and one with First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
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