Michael Ring
Question:441 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the position regarding securing alternative industries for an area of North Mayo in view of the loss of jobs due to recent events. [9963/99]
Written Answers. - Job Creation.
Údarás na Gaeltachta is working diligently to create employment opportunities in the Erris Gaeltacht to counteract recent negative occurrences resulting in job losses. An tÚdarás is hopeful that the company located in the factory which was destroyed by fire recently will resume operations as soon as possible. Progress is being made in relation to other projects with the expectation of announcing details in relation to them in due course.
An tÚdarás approved assistance in 1998 for projects in Mayo with an estimated job content of 126 posts at full production. Some of these jobs have indeed been created already.
I can assure the Deputy of my interest and commitment, and indeed of that of an tÚdarás, in securing worthwhile industrial projects for the Erris Gaeltacht and for the other Gaeltacht areas in Mayo and I have visited Erris twice in the last month with the chief executive of Údarás na Gaeltachta in this regard.