Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for his response detailing the services available currently in Castletownbere. His response confirms that the service provided is counted more in hours per month than in days per month. This gets us to the issue in respect of this particular office. We do not have a FÁS office, a citizens advice bureau, a family resource centre or the support services other towns have. While the Department claims to maintain a service, it is a critical concern that this service is being reduced from a once-a-week operation to a monthly operation. In the context of the pressures that apply in Castletownbere and the seasonal workforce, this is not adequate. I urge the Minister to consider our situation and to take into account what we have to say in respect of the overall package the Department provides for the Beara peninsula. We urge the Department to review any decision to reduce the hours being provided.

A case could easily be made for the expansion of the hours in the context of a proposal to establish a one-stop-shop on social protection to assist those who are temporarily out of work or out of work long-term to upskill and get back into the workforce. Notwithstanding the Minister of State's response, I am disappointed that because of resources, the Department is going in the opposite direction at this time when it could not be more necessary to look at this issue. I urge the Minister to review the situation of the Castletownbere office and to put more resources into operating a more holistic social protection office in Castletownbere.

See this speech in context