Since mid 1997, 19 task forces were established under the aegis of the Department to address major company closures and job losses. There is a tabular statement to accompany this reply which lists the task forces in question and it will be included in the Official Report. The Laois task force is the only one listed which is still operational but it is expected to complete its work within the next few months.
These task forces addressed a wide range of issues and focused in particular on attracting replacement industry; assisting the expansion of existing industry and the provision of advice on alternative employment opportunities; training and re-training for workers affected; and infrastructure. State development agencies, local authority and local industry, and worker interests generally constituted the membership of task forces. Follow-up action on the task force reports has been pursued by relevant Departments, State agencies, local authorities, county development boards, and private sector and other interests.
The administrative costs of task forces and the implementation costs of task force recommendations were generally met from the overall Estimates resource allocations to the agencies and other bodies involved, for example, Departments and local authorities, and from private sector funding. A figure for the accumulated costs of task forces is not readily available.
A cost-benefit evaluation of these task forces has not been undertaken by my Department. However, based on the operational experience with task forces, the general conclusion is that, overall, they provided an effective co-ordinated response to major company closures.
The State development agencies work closely with each other and with the development bodies, including the relevant county development board and county council, as well as other local bodies and interests, in facilitating an integrated approach to enterprise development. This existing co-operative framework has been enhanced with the establishment of county development boards on which the State agencies are represented, and can be used effectively to address major job losses in the regions.