Doubts are being cast over the future of the Fair Deal Office in Ballybofey which is under threat of relocation to the Midlands, according to a Donegal TD.
Answers are being sought over possible plans to move the nursing home support office to Tullamore in Offaly. This would be a ‘severe blow’ for Donegal, Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has said.
Previous assurances that the office was to remain in Ballybofey were given by former Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Deputy Gallagher has now sought clarity from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar after raising the matter in the Dáil.
“The loss of the office to Ballybofey would be a severe blow to the county and it is another example of the further removal of services from the northwest region,” Deputy Gallagher said.
He added: “The fair deal office provides excellent service to those availing of the fair deal scheme and having a local office administrate this scheme, is certainly of benefit to those availing of the scheme but this is now under threat of relocation.
“The Taoiseach was unable to provide any information on the matter of the Fair Deal Office in Ballybofey but he gave a commitment to me in the Dáil that he would have the matter looked into and revert back to me.
“I am calling on the Department of Health, the HSE and the Office of An Taoiseach to commit to retaining the office in Ballybofey and to end this uncertainty surrounding the future of this important office to the area and to desist from removing further services from the northwest region,” concluded Pat the Cope.
