Newry to get new £3m Social Security Office

A new £3 million Social Security Office is to be built in Newry in place of the old building which was destroyed by a fire five years ago.

Nigel Dodds, Minister for Social Development, and Dr Seán Farren, Minister of Finance and Personnel, announced the development during a visit to the city today.

Speaking at the site of the building work for the new government office complex, Dr Farren said: “The Northern Ireland Executive is determined to deliver a first-class service in a first-class building to the people of Newry. This will not only relocate the staff of the Social Security Office but it will bring immediate employment to Newry City as the development of the site is undertaken by a local contractor.”

Commending staff for maintaining services to the public during a difficult period since the fire, Mr Dodds added: “It is very fitting that the new city of Newry will benefit from a brand new building in which people can access integrated social security and training and job brokerage services.”

The modern facility, which will provide jobs and benefits services for the new city of Newry and the surrounding Mourne and South Armagh areas, is expected to be completed by June 2003.

Since the 1997 fire, which destroyed the old building, services have been maintained at a vacant school in Newry.

About 170 staff will be located in the new office, which will provide social security, child support, disablement advice, careers, Jobskills training and job brokerage services.

(MB)