The move marks an end to the processing of housing benefit and rent accounting in the Railway Road Housing Executive office in Strabane.

Six staff have been transferred to the Housing Executive’s headquarters in Richmond Chambers, Derry as part of the centralisation process.

The Executive is keen to stress it has “no plans” to close the Strabane office and 21 staff remain in the office, including the District Manager and a full management team.

The same situation applies to district offices in Limavady and Magherafelt. The local offices will retain their counter service and deal with routine queries from the public on benefits and rent.

Sean Mackie, NIHE area manager said: “In response to the modernising services programme and in recognition of the challenges facing social housing delivery, we have reviewed our working arrangments and have set up this new structure to allow us to continue to deliver the high quality service. This will allow the District office staff to continue to deliver a local service including housing and homelessness, response maintencence, estate management and community development.

Comprehensive

“We are committed to ensuring that our comphensive housing service is maintained locally and that we continue to deliver an efficient and modern service,” he said.

Housing benefit enquiries should be made to 08448 920902 and Rent Accounting, or all general enquires to 08448920900.