Cecilia Keaveney
Question:71 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the effort, if any, made to retain a factory (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8461/99]
Written Answers. - Job Losses.
Fingal Manufacturing Limited announced on 16 March that it intends closing its shirt making operation on 23 April 1999 with a loss of 43 jobs. The company has experienced difficult trading conditions over the past two years due to the fiercely competitive market conditions in the clothing sector. Following a root and branch evaluation of its position, the company decided reluctantly to wind up the business.
Following the announcement by the company, I arranged for the Donegal Employment Initiative to ensure that the workforce at the Moville factory can avail of the immediate intervention programme devised for workers made redundant at Fruit of the Loom plants in Donegal.
The industrial development agencies, in co-operation with Fingal Manufacturing, will be working closely in the marketing of the premises for suitable replacement projects. In addition, Enterprise Ireland has alerted a number of clothing companies to the proposed closure, with a view to identifying possibilities for relocating some production to the Moville factory.
The provision of retraining opportunities for the Fingal workers is being treated as a priority issue by FÁS. The regional placement officer together with personnel from the Letterkenny based training services division are arranging with the company to hold quality registration interviews with the workforce. On completion of this exercise, FÁS will compile a skills analysis report, which will enable it to arrange training programmes to match the needs of the workers.
I am very hopeful, therefore, that the priority actions which have been put in place in response to the Fingal closure announcement will be successful in finding new job opportunities for Moville.