1,000 jobs to be created by Department for Communities

One thousand jobs will be created across Northern Ireland by the Department for Communities.

The roles in benefit delivery will generate an additional inward investment of about £35 million a year, the department has said.

They include 595 jobs for Belfast, 270 in Londonderry, 116 in Ballymena and 27 in Ballykelly.

It is part of an expansion in services delivery for the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons described a massive boost for the local economy.

“It is testament to the quality of service being delivered in my department,” he said.

“At present, over 3,600 within the department are currently engaged in delivering services for DWP. This vital work is delivered out of sites in Belfast, Londonderry, Ballykelly and Ballymena.

“On a daily basis they are making an invaluable contribution supporting citizens across Britain to access welfare, pensions and child maintenance services.

“I am pleased to announce a strengthening of this long-standing relationship with the creation of a further 1,000 jobs over the coming  months, offering a majority of permanent full-time roles and opportunities across Northern Ireland.”

Minister for Transformation at DWP Andrew Western added: “I was delighted to visit Northern Ireland for the first time as a DWP minister to see the positive impact the DfC teams are delivering on the ground.

“Bringing 1,000 new service delivery jobs to these four areas of Northern Ireland will be invaluable to the local economy through providing more jobs for people and in delivering a key service for our customers.”

DUP Foyle MLA Gary Middleton welcomed the announcement of the new roles spread across the region.

“It is a demonstration of the minister’s commitment to regional balance and to the wider North West region,” he said.

“The jobs announced in Londonderry are in addition to those already located at Lisahally, where services for DWP are being delivered.

“These bring significant benefits to the local economy with salaries of around £150 million per year coming in to Northern Ireland as a whole.”

SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan said: “This jobs announcement is welcome, particularly for the areas outside Belfast that so often struggle to get investment of this nature.

“I know that in Derry these jobs will make a significant difference to our local economy, providing good jobs, and giving people more money to spend in local businesses.

“We will continue to press the department and minister for more information around timelines for the delivery so that we can get these positions filled as soon as possible and people and the local economy can begin to benefit from these jobs.”