SDLP councillor Maria McCarthy said the response was “just not good enough.”

She said: “Time after time we have been treated appallingly by the various Health Ministers. First we were refused a meeting about Home-Start, next was changes to the Accident and Emergency opening hours at Downe Hospital, and now Bernagh House.

“Yet again we are told that he cannot meet with us because a formal consultation is ongoing. I have heard this response too many times before. It is just an excuse.

“Surely part of a consultation process is to enable those affected to voice their opinions and concerns.

“The Minister has treated us with complete disdain and disrespect. There is real risk to jobs here and this response is just not good enough.”

Independent councillor Terry Andrews said he was extremely “disappointed” to hear of the Minister’s refusal to meet with them.

“It seems to me there is a death wish in the powers that be for the welfare of our district,” he said.

“We need to stand up and show the staff at Bernagh House that we are behind them. We need to lobby our MLAs to fight to keep these jobs in Downpatrick.”

Sinn Fein councillor Eamonn Mac Con Midhe said it was a “cop-out” to suggest that they could not meet because the consultation was ongoing.

SDLP councillor John Doris agreed that they had been treated “very poorly” on the issue and urged members to act quickly before the consultation ends on 29 February.

Green Party councillor Cadogan Enright said: “Not only are we the only Trust area not to be considered as an administrative hub but we are the only council who are prepared for this facility. We can provide the best deal for the Minister.”

It was agreed that the council write another letter to the Minister to demand a meeting.

It was also proposed that the council write to the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) and Office of the First and Deputy First Minister to inform them of the Minister’s refusal to meet with them.

A cross party delegation of councillors will now seek a meeting with the Assembly’s Health Committee to see if they can influence the decision.