New Council job support funding welcomed

Sinn Féin Derry & Strabane Council Group Leader Sandra Duffy yesterday welcomed confirmation from Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín that local councils will be able to avail of the Job Support Scheme to help protect jobs.
Sinn Fein Councillor Sandra Duffy.Sinn Fein Councillor Sandra Duffy.
Sinn Fein Councillor Sandra Duffy.

Councillor Duffy said that being able to avail of the Job Support Scheme will help protect the jobs of council workers.

“Many council workers and their families will have been anxious over the uncertainty about whether they could access this scheme so hopefully this will go some way to allay those concerns,” Colr. Duffy said.

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“This will mean that workers who had been on the furlough scheme will now be able to avail of the Job Support Scheme.

“Council workers continue to perform essential roles during this pandemic and should be supported.

“The additional £15m given to local councils by Finance Minister Conor Murphy will also help support councils at this difficult time.”

Minister Ní Chuilín said the Executive’s allocation of a further £15million to councils brings the total since the start of the COVID-19 crisis to over £75million.

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It followed a bid from the Minister to ensure councils can continue to positively contribute to the response to, and recovery from, COVID-19.

Minister Ní Chuilín said: “Councils have been and will continue to be at the forefront of delivering key local public services during this extremely difficult time.

“This further funding that has been secured will support the councils given the financial losses they are experiencing arising from the closure or reduced capacity of leisure centres and reduced income from the likes of planning and building control.

“£75m to date is a significant cash injection and demonstrates the Executive’s continued commitment to our partners in local government to help them alleviate their financial pressures.”

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The Minister’s Department confirmed at the weekend that local authorities in the north will also be able to avail of the Job Support Scheme from November 1, as partially publicly funded organisations, such as councils, are eligible for this support where their private revenues have been disrupted.

The Job Support Scheme will replace the furlough scheme (which councils could also avail of), which came to an end on Saturday, October 31.

The Minister continued: “I very much welcome this further funding for councils, which along with the availability of the Job Support Scheme will help to protect jobs and services.”