Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Inevitably the news was not going to be very good. Has any consideration been given to retaining the ten jobs in another location in Tubbercurry? They will be lost to the town. I understand it is possible, not only with regard to the Department of Social Protection but also the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, that there may be requests for transfers to other Departments in the region which would suit people. The town of Tubbercurry is losing valuable State jobs which will be exceptionally difficult to replace. The Minister of State spoke about options being available, but the impression I have from the response is the decision has been taken in principle to move the ten staff out of Tubbercurry and it is a question of where they will go. Perhaps the Minister of State will confirm this, but it seems to be the view. All I can do at this stage is plead on behalf of the people of Tubbercurry that perhaps the Department might consider retaining the ten jobs there in a smaller location, which I am sure would not be beyond the capacity of the Department to identify. I hope the reasons they must move out of Tubbercurry are not because of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, which is the anchor tenant in the modern and purpose-built building which will now be left completely vacant. Is there any hope for retaining the jobs in Tubbercurry?