Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Crossmaglen DSS office closing to 1 day a week 'Simply not good enough' - Sinn Féin

Published: 10 July, 2009

Sinn Féin MP Conor Murphy has said that the reduction in services at the Community Benefit Office in Crossmaglen is 'Simply not good enough'. Mr Murphy was speaking after it was announced that office will only operate on Wednesdays.

Mr. Murphy said,

"I have been informed that the Community Benefit Office in Crossmaglen will now only open on a Wednesday.

"At a time of increasing unemployment this office is needed more and more every week.

"I have written to Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie, outlining the importance of this office to the community in South Armagh. The Minister had previously said that any cutbacks would not affect frontline service. The closure of a rural, well used office is as frontline as it gets."

Mr. Murphy's party colleague, Terry Hearty raised the issue at Monday night's Council meeting and requested that the Council seek a meeting with the Minister or her officials to discuss the matter.

The Crossmaglen councilor said,

"The office in Crossmaglen provides a much needed service to one of the most deprived rural areas in the Six Counties.

"The community here is extremely shocked by the decision to reduce the opening of the office to one day a week.

"We understand that some cutbacks are necessary during the current economic climate. However this office only employs one person and caters for a large number of people.

"No one can understand the logic of closing this office to make such a small saving.

Cllr Hearty concluded by stating that many people are worried that this is a step to closing down the office altogether.

"Last year it was announced that the office would only be open 2 days a week. Now we hear that it will be open one day a week. What next?