ANY loss of jobs at the HM Revenue and Customs Office (HMRC) in Enniskillen would be ‘disastrous’ for local people and could be the ‘start of a slippery slope to further reductions’.
That’s the view of one local councillor, who fears that more public sector jobs could be lost in Fermanagh.
A total of 24 jobs could go at the office in Enniskillen, and there are fears that a reorganisation of the agency could see the office here close altogether.
According to HMRC the voluntary redundancy scheme has come about due to an increase in the number of online customers, which has therefore reduced the need for physical sites.
Local UUP councillor Raymond Farrell refutes this suggestion.
“HMRC talk a lot about more work being done on line but bearing in mind that Fermanagh and the West are already struggling with many blackspots in terms of broadband service, any plans to depend on this would be disastrous for local people.”
He continued: “I think as well we in Northern Ireland are at a distinct disadvantage as whereas in the rest of the UK, civil servants have the opportunity to consider redeployment as an option, we in Northern Ireland do not have this in place for our staff, nor was there any consultation.”
Raymond has been contacted by members of staff in the office and admitted it is not just the loss of the jobs which is a concern.
“What would concern me most is going down a road of reduction leaves a question of the long-term viability of the tax office.”
At Monday’s meeting of Fermanagh District Council Mr Farrell proposed writing to the chief executive of HMRC to express their concerns and stress the need for services to be maintained and developed in the west.
Sinn Fein councillor Thomas O’Reilly also backed the proposal to write to HMRC, but also asked that they include in the letter information on the proposed ‘one stop shop’ for services which could be located on the old Erne Hospital site and could deal with any relocation of staff from the tax offices at Abbey House, Head Street, Enniskillen.
“History has shown we can voice opposition about jobs in any sector, but if their minds are made up about removing them they will remove them.”
SDLP councillor Frank Britton also spoke in support of sending the letter and said that talk of Fermanagh losing out was nothing new.
“The truth of the matter is that in any government re-organisation Fermanagh is nearly always the first point of call when they want to re-organise and take the jobs out.”
Mr Britton said such a move was to be ‘deplored’ and said that over the last 10 years the county had seen ‘at least 500 jobs’ lost through this process.
It was agreed that the council would send a letter to HMRC expressing their concerns and including information on the ‘one stop shop’ at the old Erne Hospital site.
Tax staff pledge from Minister
THE Minister for Finance and Personnel Simon Hamilton has given staff at the HM Revenue and Customs Office in Enniskillen assurances that he and the Executive will do all in their power to retain jobs in the county.
In total 240 jobs are at risk in the four offices in the North, 24 of those are based in Enniskillen. Mr Hamilton will also meet with HMRC officials tomorrow to discuss the retention of jobs at the four offices.
Local MLA Phil Flanagan also told the Herald that the issue will be debated in Stormont early next week, during which he will call on the Executive to retain the jobs in Fermanagh and in the other three offices in Derry, Newry and Belfast.
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