asked the Minister for Labour if he will make a statement concerning the redundancies at a firm (name supplied) in Athlone, County Westmeath.
86.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Westmeath Redundancy.
85.
asked the Minister for Labour the number of redundancies notified to his Department by a firm (name supplied) in Athlone, County Westmeath.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 85 and 86 together.
The total number of workers who were declared reundant in the firm concerned was 260. Of these, 209 qualified for redundancy payments under the Redundancy Payments Act, 1967, amounting to over £27,000 in lump sum payments and an estimated £20,000 in weekly payments.
Apart from the assistance given to the redundant workers by the local employment exchange, officers of my Department made special visits to Athlone to assist the workers in finding suitable alternative employment, to advise them of the provisions of the redundancy payments and the resettlement allowances schemes and of the courses provided at training centres of An Chomhairle Oiliúna.