I thank the Chair for giving me a further opportunity to raise this matter on the Adjournment. I first raised it a number of months ago following the shock announcement that Asahi was to close at the end of November with the loss of 315 jobs in an area that is regarded as an employment blackspot. In recent weeks there have been a number of job announcements; 350 jobs are to be created in Dublin and 150 in Cork. It is good that the economy is booming and that the rate of job creation is at an all-time high but there have been no job announcements in County Mayo.
Following the announcement that Asahi was to close its plant in Killala the Tánaiste visited the county and informed us that the north Mayo region would be given top priority so far as job creation was concerned. She acted extremely swiftly and established the North Mayo Enterprise Initiative comprising many local bodies as well as the IDA. It has made many efforts to attract a replacement industry. It stated in a press release issued in September that it was trying to secure a project for the advance factory in Bunree in Ballina and that an attractive package of support was being put in place by the IDA to increase the attractiveness of this location. That was a welcome development but there has been no good news to date. Will the IDA be successful in the near future?
The North Mayo Enterprise Initiative has informed us that the Asahi plant and site are available and that a brochure is being prepared to attract a replacement industry. Is there information available on this? Many of Asahi's employees are beginning to panic because there is no prospect of alternative employment in north Mayo. They have written to me as their public representative seeking answers.
There is a lack of infrastructure in north Mayo. This is a major problem. Is there a commitment to carry out improvements to make it easier to attract industry to the region? The road to Ballina is in a disgraceful condition. Water and sewerage schemes are also required.
There is a view that the spinning plant in the Asahi complex is a viable option. I wrote to the Tánaiste and the Minister of State at her Department, Deputy Tom Kitt, asking if the IDA and the North Mayo Enterprise Initiative would examine this possibility. I was informed that the matter was under consideration. What is the current position? Has this option been ruled out?
What the people of County Mayo need are answers and, more importantly, jobs. Any positive indications would be welcome.