Vol. 485 No. 2
73 Mr. Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to install replacement industries in Athy, County Kildare following the recent loss of two companies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22696/97]
The industrial development agencies under my Department are actively pursuing replacement industries for the Athy area. As part of the expansion of its overall Irish activities, Sherwood Medical relocated its production activity from Athy to its headquarters in Tullamore. This involved the relocation of approximately 60 employees who were offered employment at the plant in Tullamore.
There have been a number of site visits by overseas investors to the Athy facility to date. Sherwood Medical has made the facility, 48,000 square feet, available at favourable terms to potential clients. Negotiations are ongoing between the property division of IDA, Ireland and interested parties to examine the provision of an advance factory in Athy. Planning permission is currently being sought for a new privately funded advance factory in Newbridge which, when occupied, will have a positive impact on employment opportunities for the southern region of the county.
The continued expansion of major companies located in County Kildare, such as Hewlett Packard, Intel, Wyeth Medica, Modus Media (Stream), Oral B and Donnelly Mirrors, as maintained during 1997, indicates a strong growth expectation for 1998. Although some of the traditional large employers in the food sector in County Kildare have reduced their employment levels, new companies have been established and have created new employment. Examples of such companies are Poldy's Fresh Foods Limited, Naas and the Queally Group, also in Naas. This sector of prepared consumer foods will continue to expand.
74 Mr. Belton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, her Department has to boost job creation in areas of the midlands (details supplied) in view of the fact that most job starts announced recently by her Department have been in the larger cities. [22827/97]
The industrial development agencies of my Department are making a substantial contribution to job creation in the midlands. The recent announcement that Oxford Health Plans Inc. will establish a claims processing centre in Mullingar, with the support of IDA Ireland, marks a move to regional locations of international services businesses. It is also the first major project of its type to locate in the midlands. Oxford Health Plans, at full capacity, will employ 500 people in Mullingar and will locate in a 25,000 square feet IDA advance factory at Clonmore, Mullingar. The availability of this factory was one of the key factors in attracting the company to the town.
75 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will give details of the new job announcements made by her Department to date in 1997 on a constituency basis. [22872/97]
The information requested by the Deputy is not available on a constituency basis. I am, however, separately forwarding county-wide information in relation to IDA Ireland and Forbairt.
