Written Answers. - Job Losses.
Andrew Boylan
Question:
36
Mr. Boylan
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs which have been closed down in 1998 in each county indicating jobs which have gone, or announced to go shortly; if a redundancy package was paid in each instance; where the jobs have gone; if they have been relocated in another county or country; the jobs which commenced in each of the counties which have lost jobs; and the jobs which have been announced but not commenced in each of these counties.
[8358/99]
Nora Owen
Question:
81
Mrs. Owen
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs closed down in 1998 in each county indicating jobs that have gone or announced to go shortly; if a redundancy package was paid in each instance; where the jobs have gone; if they have been relocated in another county or country; the jobs commenced in each of the counties which have lost jobs; and the jobs announced but not commenced in each of these counties.
[8472/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 81 together.
The total number of job losses during 1998 based on data compiled by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development is estimated at 16,483. The total number of jobs created in 1998, as returned by the agencies, amounted to 30,728, resulting in a net increase in jobs of 14,245. A table showing the breakdown of jobs lost and new jobs created on a county by county basis is being circulated in the Official Report.
Under the Protection of Employment Act, 1997, my Department has received a total of 996 collective redundancy notifications so far in 1999. A breakdown of these notifications on a county by county basis is also being circulated in the Official Report. In addition to the notified redundancies, Fruit of the Loom has announced job losses of 770 in 1999 at its Donegal plant. IDA Ireland has advised of a further 320 redundancies at Arlington Ltd. in County Laois. It should be noted that notified redundancies may not actually arise in all cases.
Qualifying employees are entitled to statutory redundancy under the Redundancy Acts. Any individual who is concerned about the question of redundancy entitlements should contact my Department which will be glad to assist in clarifying the position regarding entitlements.Ex gratia redundancy packages are a matter for the companies themselves and I am not in a position to provide details in regard to this aspect.
There are many reasons why companies close or reduce the numbers employed including, for example, rationalisation, competition in the market place, especially from low-cost countries, and relocation. During 1998 and 1999, among the significant closures announced by foreign companies, relocation to Greece and Malaysia was cited as a reason in the case of two large employers.
A full comparison of job announcements and closures is not available as neither Shannon Development nor Enterprise Ireland announce details of the smaller job creation projects.
In the case of IDA Ireland, job announcements in 1998 amounted to 24,595. This compares with a total of new jobs created in 1998 of 15,996. The number of jobs announced would in many cases be phased in over a period of years and would not all fall to be created in the year of announcement.
Employment losses must be seen in the context of overall strong economic growth, declining unemployment, and sustained employment expansion throughout the economy. Employment is dependent on the success or failure of individual firms in the market economy and it is inevitable that some firms will fail, as indeed, many will thrive and generate additional employment. 1998 was the fifth successive year of strong economic growth and this is reflected in the numbers of new jobs created with the assistance of the development agencies.
Job Gains and Losses in 1998
|
County
|
New Jobs
|
Job Losses
|
|
IDA
|
EI/SFADCo/IDA/SFADCo
|
|
Carlow
|
72
|
263785
|
|
Cavan
|
49
|
30931186
|
|
Clare
|
39
|
0214752179
|
|
ShannonFree Zone
|
|
981220
|
|
Cork
|
2343
|
12161021 866
|
|
Donegal
|
54
|
365311222
|
|
Dublin
|
7371
|
47312075 3296
|
|
Galway
|
673
|
701144200
|
|
Kerry
|
182
|
14711110037 109
|
|
Kildare
|
435
|
472486388
|
|
Kilkenny
|
58
|
2328291
|
|
Laois
|
7
|
10910823
|
|
Leitrim
|
17
|
758441
|
|
Limerick
|
1681
|
366796663288
|
|
Longford
|
57
|
25510 52
|
|
County
|
New Jobs
|
Job Losses
|
|
IDA
|
EI/SFADCo/IDA/SFADCo
|
|
Louth
|
346
|
56072416
|
|
Mayo
|
484
|
26033226
|
|
Meath
|
79
|
41970181
|
|
Monaghan
|
24
|
46010145
|
|
Offaly
|
90
|
130 793510760
|
|
Roscommon
|
70
|
2383052
|
|
Sligo
|
241
|
10985 137
|
|
Tipp-North
|
8
|
23195750125
|
|
Tipp-South
|
204
|
185 101870
|
|
Waterford
|
702
|
37576470
|
|
Westmeath
|
238
|
234 247116
|
|
Wexford
|
137
|
257140287
|
|
Wicklow
|
335
|
312169 417
|
|
Total
|
15996
|
12473225971868316981
|
Source: IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development
24 March 1999
Collective Redundancy Notifications 1999
|
County
|
No. of RedundancyNotifications
|
|
Clare
|
85
|
|
Cork
|
339
|
|
Donegal
|
148
|
|
Dublin
|
103
|
|
Kerry
|
11
|
|
Kilkenny
|
97
|
|
Limerick
|
52
|
|
Meath
|
19
|
|
Tipperary
|
142
|
|
Total
|
996
|
Source: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
24th March 1999
