The Department of Social Protection is denying claims that more than 30 jobs will be lost at it’s base in Sligo.
However they have confirmed that 32 positions will be moved to Dublin as part of a reallocation of roles.
It follows concerns raised this morning by Fianna Fail deputy Marc MacSharry.
The posts in the Information Service sector of the department are to be returned to the capital after being located in Sligo for more than a decade.
The positions are responsible for a variety of communications related tasks within the department including customer complaints and the much used website welfare.ie
In a statement to Ocean FM the department said staff remaining in Sligo will be assigned to roles in other department functions in Sligo.
They also say that staff numbers in the Sligo office are in fact on the rise with 25 new positions being created in the past two years.
It comes after Fianna Fail TD for Sligo/Leitrim Marc MacSharry claimed that the move will create 32 new vacancies in Dublin and nothing but uncertainty in Sligo.
Deputy MacSharry described the government’s action in moving the jobs back to Dublin as disgraceful and said it discriminates against the people of the region.
It’s his belief that the posts are being moved to boost the minster for social protection Leo Varadkar’s PR machine in the race for the leadership of Fine Gael.
The department have refuted Deputy MacSharry’s allegations saying it’s an entirely operational matter overseen by the Secretary General.
