Seán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise this important issue about the retention of Department of Social Protection jobs in Ballybay, County Monaghan. Ballybay is a small town, with a population of 1,500 people, and the loss of 30 jobs there would be devastating. It would be the equivalent of losing 300 jobs in a town with a population of of 15,000 people. This must be taken seriously by the Department of Social Protection and all efforts made to retain the jobs in Ballybay. That is imperative. I am very concerned about the way the Department has handled the issue, the answers emanating from it on how it has conducted a review of the offices in Ballybay and the answer given by the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, to a parliamentary question submitted by my colleague in Cavan-Monaghan, Deputy Brendan Smith.

I am annoyed that five property owners who have offered premises in Ballybay, which would mean the retention of the jobs in the town, have not been given adequate responses from the Department of Social Protection. I spoke to one of them this morning. He submitted his request in time, but he has not been contacted by either the OPW or the Department about his offer to provide adequate space for the Department. He also met the Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Simon Harris, before Christmas. He has made it clear that he is prepared to foot any cost to ensure the jobs are retained in the local area, but he has not been afforded the opportunity to provide a quote. The other property owners are in the same position.

This issue must be taken very seriously by the Department of Social Protection. The answer to the parliamentary question suggested the decision had already been made by ot. It was believed locally that this was a done deal and that the decision had been made long before the property owners were consulted. Can this issue be revisited? It is of great concern to me, people in my constituency and those working in the Department of Social Protection in Ballybay that adequate consideration is not being given to these alternative proposals. There is adequate space in Ballybay to retain the jobs in the town. At the last meeting it was made clear that if there were new jobs to come in terms of a public service card, it could be done either in Ballybay or elsewhere. There is no need for the jobs currently located in Ballybay to be moved elsewhere.

It is welcome that we have a new Minister of State with special responsibility for rural economic development, but I am concerned that the Department of Social Protection is not taking the issue of rural development seriously. I have no issue with jobs being moved to another rural town, but why should a small rural town, in which these jobs have been located for over 30 years, be treated in this way when there are people who are prepared to put their money on the line to retain the jobs in the area? It is a retrograde step. It looks very bad from the Government's perspective and from that of the Department that adequate consideration is not being given to the various offers made.

I also spoke to the county council which had offered the Department Monaghan Town Council offices for issuing the public service card. The council has not been consulted adequately either. Its offer also seems to have been ignored.

It is welcome that the 30 jobs are located in Ballybay and it is important that they be retained there. It is also welcome that the Department of Social Protection has stated it wants to create more jobs, but they can be adequately sourced, resourced and facilitated in Ballybay which is in the centre of the county and within easy reach of all parts of the county. In a previous response from a departmental official I was told there was no adequate public transport service available. That is a failure of the Government which needs to provide a proper public transport system throughout rural Ireland. It is a lame excuse. This issue must be revisited.

The Minister of State is present. He has said he is looking at the issue and I look forward to hearing his formal reply. This issue will not go away. It is believed locally that adequate consideration has not been given to the offers made.

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