asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the steps the IDA and the Government propose to take to assist a firm (name supplied) as a result of the serious fire damage caused to their plant in Sligo, which resulted in the lay-off of 500 employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sligo Plant Fire.
14.
I have informed the firm to which the Deputy refers that any assistance which my Department or the Industrial Development Authority can provide will be forthcoming.
I expect that full production will be resumed in the factory but, as the Deputy will appreciate, it will take some considerable time before this can be achieved. Both my Department and the Industrial Development Authority are maintaining close contact with the firm.
I presume the Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary are aware of the major disaster this has caused to the economy of Sligo and Leitrim?
Yes; a very serious problem has been posed by this fire.
Has the Minister taken any initiative with the directors of the firm?
Yes.
Has he offered all assistance that can be provided through the IDA to the firm?
Following the fire the Minister wrote to the chairman of the parent company, Dr. Luigi Sancta Maria, expressing his concern at the fire and indicating that any help which he or the IDA could give would be gladly forthcoming.
Is the Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary, and the IDA confident that a decision will be made to restore full production in that factory?
We are hopeful that this will be the case and certainly all the efforts of the Department and the IDA are being bent towards that end.