AQW 5024/16-21

Mrs Naomi Long
Alliance Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 11/10/2016
Answered On Date: 26/10/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to outline, as part of the Welfare Reform, (i) whether it is projected that staffing in the Working Age group will decrease by 2022; and (ii) the extent in reduction of staffing.

Answer:

At present, it is too early to determine if staffing levels in the Working Age group will decrease by 2022. However, it is projected that over the next 5 years, there will be an increase in staffing in the first three years, because of the need to operate dual social security benefit systems, before a decline over the following two years before moving into a steady state position. Work is ongoing to determine what the overall workforce requirements will be longer term.