Cecilia Keaveney
Question:50 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make a statement regarding the role to date of the Donegal Task Force. [15007/99]
Written Answers. - Job Initiatives.
The Donegal employment initiative, which I set up on 16 September 1998, has made considerable progress to date. Since its establishment, the task force has pursued its work through a number of sub-committees which addressed a variety of issues, including the conduct of consultations with employees and management representatives at the various Fruit of the Loom plants on the provision of advice and support to redundant workers and also consideration of submissions made by interested parties.
The work of the task force is now well advanced and I understand that a report on its progress is being finalised for presentation to me shortly. I propose to bring the report before Government in due course.
The industrial development agencies, who form part of the task force, have undertaken an intensive promotional campaign of the county and as a result, on 4 May 1999, I announced the creation of 226 new jobs for Donegal which marks the beginning of progress for the area. Some 116 of these jobs are for Letterkenny with the balance being located between Killybegs, Lifford and Greencastle. A number of companies are in discussions with IDA Ireland's north west regional office regarding further new projects.
Enterprise Ireland is also actively working with the various bodies represented on the task force to minimise the impact of loss of employment in the area.