By Conor Sharkey
THE biggest shake-up in benefit processing for decades will see upwards of 50 jobs siphoned away from Strabane, a leading union representative claimed this week.
The Strabane Chronicle has learnt that a statement on the future of the local DHSS office was due last Friday, but has now been deferred until next month.
However it is "common knowledge" that the office is to be stripped down to a stop gap service in the near future, according to a source within the Urney Road facility.
According to the source, Strabane's Job Seekers department will be moved to Enniskillen while the Income Support department will go to Omagh under government plans.
"It is common knowledge in the office that this announcement will be made shortly, but our local councillors don't appear to be doing much.
"We are worried because a lot of the people won't be able to commute to Enniskillen, Derry or Omagh everyday and they will probably have to leave their posts altogether.
"On top of that, any member of the public who needs help with their benefits just won't get the customer service they need from the much smaller office that is to remain in Strabane.
"Something needs to be done now because this announcement is coming shortly," the source explained.
Concerns over the future of Strabane's DHSS office have been voiced on several occasions in the past. Earlier this year it was revealed that refurbishment plans for the Urney Road site had been shelved.
Speaking on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Communication Workers Union said he was well aware of the plans and that a lobbying campaign needed to be kickstarted immediately.
"Departments are going to be centralised to 16 or 18 locations across the North, so everywhere will be affected.
"Staff at the Urney Road are hearing it through the rumour mill but I can confirm it is going to happen. At the minute the T's are being crossed and the I's dotted, but it is going to happen.
"Strabane will be reduced to a basic frontline service whereby you will be redirected to Omagh or Enniskillen.
"If you have a problem you will be put through to a location outside the town.
"So this move is going to have a major impact on a lot of local people and we do have grave concerns.
"There is little we can do until public consultation on this starts but we would urge everyone, community groups and individuals alike, to contact their local MP's and MLA's to raise the issue.
"Until more information is released, we can't attack this but when that time comes, we will do all within our power to make sure these jobs and these services are kept in Strabane," he said.
When contacted earlier this week, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Development told the Strabane Chronicle she was totally unaware of any plans to relocate jobs away from Strabane's DHSS office.
