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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 4

Written Answers. - Job Creation.

Noel Davern

Question:

483 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the progress, if any, which has been made to secure industry for Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, since the closure of the Schiessers plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1002/97]

Noel Davern

Question:

484 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the progress, if any, which has been made to secure industry for Tipperary town since the closure of the Tambrands plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1003/97]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 483 and 484 together.

Following the closure of the Tambrands plant in Tipperary and the Schiesser plant in Carrick-on-Suir I appointed an inter-agency enterprise group to ensure that the Tambrands and Schiesser plants were made available for alternative investment purposes, to assist employees with training and retraining opportunities and to assist workers who wish to pursue entrepreneurial ventures in their own right. The group has been working closely with public representatives and local interest groups to exploit to the maximum opportunities for job creation in the area.

The Tambrands plant consists of two buildings. The group successfully negotiated with Tambrands to transfer the smaller of the two buildings to Tipperary South Riding County Council for use as an enterprise unit. IDA Ireland has been actively marketing the larger building and the Schiesser premises to investors. Some of these contacts are being pursued further by the IDA. Both plants continue to be marketed by the IDA internationally. At my request, concentrated efforts are being focused on the task and I continue to be optimistic that a replacement project can be found at this time.

Forbairt and the county enterprise board for South Tipperary are also actively promoting industrial development and job creation in both towns. Forbairt is in discussions with local interests concerning the development of a community enterprise centre in Carrick-on-Suir, while the county enterprise board has to date approved 14 projects in Tipperary town and 13 in Carrick-on-Suir which have yielded 34 additional full and part-time jobs to date.
In addition, an audit of the skills of the former employees of the Tambrands and Schiesser plants has been undertaken by FÁS and specialised courses provided to assist those interested in retraining.
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