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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 losses | Margaret 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. |
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