It is no great joy to be back here speaking about further redundancies in and around the New Ross area, especially the recent spate of redundancies at Albatros Fertilizers which everybody thought was the pivot of industry in that area. Unfortunately, two years ago, when the workforce was reduced from 380 to 240, we thought that the figures would stabilise at that level. Unfortunately management see fit to reduce that still further and are bringing the workforce down to 170. I am led to believe this is not the end of the story and that we will have more redundancies within the coming year.
Albatros Fertilizers Limited were the king-pin which we depended upon in New Ross as a strong base for industry. Unemployment levels in Wexford today are at an all-time high, in the region of 7,000 or 22 per cent. This must rate us as the worst off county. In the New Ross area the figures are in excess of 1,100 and this will bring the figure up to 1,200. I want the Minister to ensure that everything possible will be done to guarantee that we will not have 70 redundancies in Albatros Fertilizers Limited.
Being a farmer myself I am fairly well acquainted with the problem. Because of the fallback in confidence in farming, fertiliser sales have dropped and Albatros Fertilizers Limited have suffered. The management claim that they are not making money and therefore they have to reduce the staff. They are operating a twin system in New Ross. One is all blending, and the other is what is known as granulation or the CCF plant. This plant, which produces a granulated fertiliser which makes it far more easy for farmers to spread it, is the last CCF plant in Ireland. If it is closed, we will have no CCF plant. This is of vital importance. There is still a demand for that type of fertiliser. Is it the Minister's intention to see more imports coming in? From what I hear the CCF fertiliser will come up the same river and be unloaded at the port on which the Albatros Fertilizer Limited factory is built. I appeal to the Minister to retain the jobs in New Ross and not to create jobs for people outside this country.
In 1982 a fairly substantial package was put to Albatros Fertilizer Limited which kept them going until this year. I am asking for it to be continued until confidence comes back into the agricultural scene. Then there will be far greater sales of fertiliser and the CCF plant will be able to continue as it has heretofore. On many occasions in this House we have heard discussions about imports from other countries. Now the problem is on my doorstep. I want to ensure that everything will be done to protect the jobs of Irish people and that we will not be creating jobs for people in other countries.
I believe Albatros Fertilizers Limited are anxious to keep the parent company going in Holland at the expense of the Irish company. I am sure this is the case in many other instances as well. I am particularly interested in New Ross at this stage. I want to ensure that when any company is in trouble the difficulties are shared. Over the years we have done nothing about the importation of fertilisers. This importation has been nothing short of dumping. When manufacturers abroad had a surplus they dumped it here at the expense of our workforce. Being a farmer I would not buy it. I buy Irish. From what I hear the quality of the fertiliser which was dumped here is not nearly as good as the manure made here. I should like the Minister to give me an undertaking that he will have this matter investigated.
I should also like to mention NET who are State-supported. I understand they are considering going into the manufacture of compound fertilisers, be it blending or otherwise. I do not want to see a State-supported company taking jobs from people in New Ross. I am most anxious that the Minister will insist that this does not happen. We want to protect our own people and our own jobs. New Ross port is a very active port. It has done pretty well down through the years. One of the reasons for that is the importation of raw materials for fertilisers. If we have a continuation of the present trend in Albatros Fertilizers Limited the workforce will be lessened again next year and, with less fertiliser being made within the confines of the factory, less imports will be necessary. This will mean a downgrading of the port and probably create redundancies amongst dockers, and so on. We cannot afford that. It is another point I should like to make in favour of the continuation of Albatros Fertilizers Limited.
New Ross station is one of the few stations on a branch line from the main Rosslare—Limerick line. Three people are working there. They depend totally on the delivery of fertilisers to keep the station in operation. If there is a downgrading of Albatros Fertilizers Limited, or if less fertiliser is made which seems to be the trend, the station is in danger too. I understand that recently Albatros Fertilizers Limited have been bringing in contractors to do work which could have been done by the people who are now threatened with redundancy. All these areas should be considered by the Minister to ensure that people who have employment in the area will keep their jobs. I see no sense in bringing in contractors to do work which could easily be carried out by these people.
I know negotiations are going on between management and workers. I do not want to upset those negotiations. I appeal to the Minister to ensure that our unemployment levels in New Ross and the surrounding area will not be allowed to increase. We have 1,200 people unemployed there which is in the region of 20 per cent. Even though the figure is so high, no task force was set up in the area to deal with it. The industry around which employment in New Ross is built is going downhill. I am most anxious that this trend should be halted. I appeal to the Minister to insist that Albatros Fertilizers Limited retain their present staff and to make the necessary finances available. A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, my colleague Deputy Aylward has asked for some of my time.