£8 million benefit contract to create 20 jobs in Derry: Givan

An £8 million contract is to bring 20 jobs to Derry, the Communities Minister has announced.

Paul Givan revealed the new posts during a visit to the Department of Work and Pensions headquarters in London.

The new jobs will be based at the Lisahally Service Centre and the majority will be administrative posts with a salary of around £19,000.

A total of 170 jobs have been created to deliver services to claimants in Britain for the next two years, with the bulk going to the Ballymena branch.

However, the Givan conceded a number of the posts will be filled through internal NICS redeployment, with the remainder available through external recruitment and recruitment agencies.

Speaking in London he said: “This new contract is the second to be secured by my department this year on behalf of DWP and underscores their confidence in the quality skills and service our staff in Northern Ireland consistently deliver.

“Providing services to Great Britain on behalf of DWP is now a core part of my department’s business.”

He added he was “confident” the new contract would provide “excellent opportunities” at the sites in Ballymena and Derry.