Vol. 487 No. 6
92 Mr. Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her Department has been advised by the IDA of visits by prospective clients, if any, to the Seagate factory in Clonmel, County Tipperary, since the company announced its closure; and, if so, if she will provide details of these visits. [4871/98]
In December 1997, Seagate Technology Ireland Limited announced its intention to close the company's Clonmel operation in early 1998. A task force was immediately established in response to this announcement. The IDA Ireland focus for the immediate future will clearly be to actively participate with the task force with a view to getting replacement industry as quickly as possible.
From the perspective of winning new overseas investment, I am informed that IDA Ireland is operating a three point strategy. First is the promotion of the Seagate facility and site for one or more new high-tech industries. A brochure has been prepared on the facility and has been circulated to all IDA Ireland overseas offices. Second, in response to the focused promotion of Clonmel generally, there have been six site visits by potential overseas investors to Clonmel in 1998. Two of these were to the Seagate facility and four were to another site in Clonmel. As the Deputy will appreciate, contacts between IDA Ireland and the promoters of potential projects are conducted on a confidential basis and, as such, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the details of such contacts. Third, IDA Ireland is also focusing on a number of existing overseas companies in the Clonmel area to encourage and support them to expand their operations there.
The task force has adopted a positive and constructive approach and the local management of Seagate are extending support to the employees in seeking alternative employment. IDA Ireland will continue to work closely with the county's local authorities and chambers of commerce in addition to playing a highly active role within the task force.
93 Mr. Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, her Department has made to assist the group of workers from the Seagate plant who have been included in the educational opportunity scheme run by the company and who have completed one year's study; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that, following the closure of the company, the course participants will be unable to cover their travel costs to Cork in order to complete the NCEA electronics engineering certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4872/98]
My Department has not received any submission concerning the former Seagate workers referred to in the Deputy's question. I understand, however, that 26 Seagate workers are engaged in the electronic engineering certificate course at Cork Institute of Technology. I further understand that a sub-committee of the Clonmel task force has considered the position of these students in relation to the continuation of their studies and I am informed that the task force is to make recommendations shortly in this regard.
While the issues in this case may not be for consideration by my Department, I will ensure that immediately on receipt of the task force's report, they will be referred to the appropriate Government Departments for consideration.
