By Michele Canning Smith
ALL processing of housing benefit and rent accounting is to moved out of Strabane's Housing Executive office, and centralised in Derry.
From Monday, six staff formerly situated in the Strabane office will now be based in the Executive headquarters in Richmond Chambers, Derry.
The same situation also affects district offices in Limavady and Magherafelt.
The Executive has moved to assure the community that it has no plans to close the Strabane district office.
A total of 21 staff will remain in the District office at Railway Street, including the District Manager and a full management team.
The local offices will retain its counter service and deal with routine queries from the public on benefit and rent.
An NIHE spokesperson said, "The Housing Executive has no plans to close the Strabane District Office. The District Office will continue to provide a comprehensive range of housing services."
NIHE's Area Manager Sean Mackie added, "In response to the modernising services programme and in recognition of the challenges facing social housing delivery, we have reviewed our working arrangements and have set up this new structure to allow us to continue to deliver the high quality service.
"These back office services, such as Housing Benefit and Rent Accounting, are being transferred to Richmond Chambers where experienced staff will assess and administer Housing Benefit and Rent accounting for all of the six district offices.
"This will allow the District office staff to continue to deliver a local service including housing and homelessness, response maintenance, estate management and community development.
"We are committed to ensuring that our comprehensive housing service is maintained locally and that we continue to deliver an efficient and modern service," he said.
Michael Dallat is the manager of the new Housing Benefit Section and John Quigley is the manager of the new Rent Account Section.
Housing Benefit enquiries should be made to 08448 920 902 and Rent Accounting, or all general enquiries to 08448 920 900.
'The Housing Executive has no plans to close the Strabane District Office.'
