AQW 49535/11-16 Written question to the Minister for Social Development
To ask the Minister for Social Development to detail any costs incurred since May 2011 due to infrastructure set up in anticipation of the Welfare Reform Bill (NIA Bill 13/11-15) receiving Royal Assent.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 7 October 2015
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 7 October 2015
- Answer due by
- 22 October 2015
- Answered
- 22 October 201515 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Communities
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Whilst Welfare Reform has not yet been introduced in Northern Ireland, it has been necessary to undertake early implementation activity to ensure that systems and processes are sufficiently developed to be ready for changes that will be brought about by Welfare Changes. The costs incurred for the infrastructure changes are detailed below:
| Type | Cost to date |
| Accommodation - Knockbreda JBO (supports early testing of some Universal Credit service delivery components) | £39,000 |
| IT Development (Discretionary Support) | £95,000 |
| IT Health Check | £3,790 |
| Telephony (Discretionary Support) | £31,000 |
| IT for Appeals Reform | £81,080 |
| Totals | £24,9870 |