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Jobs 'at risk' over budget cuts Jobs 'at risk' over budget cuts
(10 minutes later)
Up to 1,500 social security jobs could be under threat because of budget cuts, the social development minister has said.Up to 1,500 social security jobs could be under threat because of budget cuts, the social development minister has said.
Margaret Ritchie warned the Treasury was trying to impose a 5% cut in social security and other services.Margaret Ritchie warned the Treasury was trying to impose a 5% cut in social security and other services.
She said the cuts could lead to job losses over a three year period.She said the cuts could lead to job losses over a three year period.
Mrs Ritchie said she would be making a case to the Treasury because if the cuts go ahead, claimants would have to wait longer for benefits.Mrs Ritchie said she would be making a case to the Treasury because if the cuts go ahead, claimants would have to wait longer for benefits.
She said job losses would impact on the "delivery of front line social security services to the people most in need in Northern Ireland."She said job losses would impact on the "delivery of front line social security services to the people most in need in Northern Ireland."
Margaret Ritchie warned cuts would lead to job lossesMargaret Ritchie warned cuts would lead to job losses
"It means the claimants have to wait longer for benefits, and it means that they do without money," she said."It means the claimants have to wait longer for benefits, and it means that they do without money," she said.
"Those people can ill afford to do without money, they need it in order to provide food on the table.""Those people can ill afford to do without money, they need it in order to provide food on the table."
She said the Social Security Agency had already suffered because of a previous comprehensive spending review, with 674 job losses.She said the Social Security Agency had already suffered because of a previous comprehensive spending review, with 674 job losses.
Mrs Ritchie told the assembly's social security committee, that taken together, that amounted the Social Security Agency losing 40% of its staff.
"To continue with the current level of service and to enable us to safeguard vulnerable people in our community the department will require an extra £1.5bn... over the next three years," she said.
A department source told the BBC that the minister was talking about "posts rather than jobs" as personnel are expected to be redeployed.A department source told the BBC that the minister was talking about "posts rather than jobs" as personnel are expected to be redeployed.
The source said the "big concern" was that services were being slashed and benefits will take longer to reach people.The source said the "big concern" was that services were being slashed and benefits will take longer to reach people.