Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter, which arose as a result of media reportage that there is to be relocation of State jobs from the facility in Tubbercurry in County Sligo, which comprises civil servants from the Departments of the Environment, Community and Local Government and Social Protection. Following media comments local councillor Jerry Lundy raised the issue on local and national media because he had been given to understand from those working in the facility that it is effectively going to be shut down and that all of the jobs in Tubbercurry will be transferred.

The background is that as Minister with responsibility for rural development in 2006, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív decentralised sections of the Department comprising 101 jobs to what was referred to as a temporary facility in Tubbercurry pending the building of a permanent facility at Charlestown, County Mayo. Naturally enough as time went on Tubbercurry became very comfortable with the notion it had so many State jobs, particularly as the area has a history of industrial production. The late James Gallagher, who was a Deputy for Sligo-Leitrim, created 450 jobs as a result of his entrepreneurial skills, with Basta locks being the best known product, but sadly this shut down. Tubbercurry has a background of fruitful, positive and productive employment so one can understand the reaction when the news started to circulate in the area.

The Department of Social Protection has a number of jobs there, and the suggestion is these will be relocated to either Sligo or Carrick-on-Shannon, where Department of Social Protection offices operate. When I made inquiries the Department was unable to clarify exactly what the position is. I and Councillor Lundy are operating on rumour and hearsay. I have confirmed the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is being relocated. What will happen to the Department of Social Protection work force? It is important the staff are reassured, and it is for this reason I seek clarity on the situation, which I hope the Minister of State will be able to provide.