Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Dec 1990

Vol. 404 No. 1

Written Answers. - Sugar Company Statistics.

Michael Lowry

Question:

82 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will give details of (a) the total number employed, both permanent and seasonal, by Siúicre Éireann cpt., in Thurles, County Tipperary, at the date of the announcement of the closure of the sugar factory, (b) the total number employed at present by the company in Thurles and (c) the total number employed at present in the replacement industries; and their proposals for increasing this number over the next two years.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. O'Kennedy)

(a) There were 155 permanent employees and 130 seasonal/ temporary staff at the sugar factory in Thurles on the date of the announcement of its closure. Twenty-three of the permanent employees were retained at Thurles and a further six were transferred to other locations. (b) At present, Siúicre Éireann, cpt, has 24 employees at the sugar factory site. (c) There is a total of 187 employed at present in the replacement industries in Thurles. The replacement companies plan to increase their staff numbers to 384 by the end of 1992.

In addition, there are 138 employees at Erin Foods in Thurles, which is a division of Siúicre Éireann, cpt.