Cecilia Keaveney
Question:37 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position in relation to the Donegal task force initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7772/99]
Written Answers. - Job Creation.
I set up the Donegal employment initiative on 16 September 1998 to assess and recommend the most appropriate responses to offset and compensate for the expected job losses in particular areas of Donegal, and draw up a set of priority actions for establishing Donegal as a prime competitive and attractive location for job creation investment.
Since its establishment the taskforce has met on eight separate occasions. It has set up a number of sub-committees to oversee certain tasks, including consideration of submissions made by interested parties.
Last January, one of these sub-committees, which deals with training and support services, met employee and management representatives at the various Fruit of the Loom plants to brief them on the programme of work being undertaken by the task force in relation to the provision of training and employment guidance counselling to the workers.
The work of the task force is now well advanced and I understand that a report on its progress should be finalised for presentation to me at an early date. The report will address the range of issues covered in the terms of reference and outline the progress made since its establishment. These issues include the work undertaken by the development agencies in prioritising Donegal as a location for industrial development, the initiatives already supported by Government action in relation to tourism and air accessvia Derry City Airport, the carrying out of a skills analysis of the workers being made redundant at Fruit of the Loom plants and also at Donegal Shirt Company, and the putting in place of a number of FÁS/Cert training initiatives.
I look forward to receiving this report which is expected to include some well focused recommendations for further action in respect of a wide range of issues, including infrastructure, education, training, the availability of suitable industrial sites, the promotion of foreign direct investment and the development of indigenous enterprise.
Once I have had time to study the report, I propose to submit it to Government.