Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 1

Written Answers. - Socio-Economic Profile Report.

Jack Wall

Question:

158 Mr. Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has examined a report from a group (details supplied) in County Kildare; and, if so, the action, if any, she has taken to rectify the problems highlighted. [1643/00]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney):

The report entitled "Athy Socio-Economic Profile", compiled by the Athy Investment Development and Employment Forum in November 1999, was provided to me recently by the secretary of the forum. Subsequently, the secretary wrote to me requesting a meeting between the forum and myself with a view to discussing the report.

I have had the report examined by Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and FÁS, who are the agencies under the aegis of my Department with responsibility for industrial development, and requested their views on the report's proposals. As you may be aware, FÁS, the national training authority, compiled a report entitled "Labour Market and Skills Analysis, Athy" in 1998 and many of the FÁS conclusions are borne out in the forum's report.

In addition to the central issues of declining industry, low levels of development in recent times and the move towards dormitory town status highlighted in the report, FÁS considers issues such as the growth in early school-leavers, access to training facilities and the need for a flexible labour force as further priorities to be addressed. FÁS also notes that there is a significant number of long-term unemployed persons in Athy whose prospects of finding employment are limited, and is actively seeking to involve this group of people in community employment schemes as an interim solution to addressing the employment problem.

FÁS has also appointed placement officers to the town to interview clients on the live register and work full time with the local employment scheme while also liaising with local employers and LES mediators. In addition, the FÁS external training provision includes Athy in its catchment area each year recruiting for mainline courses in Tallaght training centre.

Both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, through their regional staff, are active participants on the Athy forum. Through its representation on the forum, IDA Ireland will also be supportive of proactive proposals brought forward to address long-term unemployment issues. IDA Ireland has committed to and is delivering on its promise to have an advance factory constructed and to seek to secure a project for the new building. Site work commenced in November 1999 and the factory is due for completion in May 2000.

Enterprise Ireland held a meeting with senior officials of both Kildare County Council and Athy Urban District Council on 12 January 2000 to consider what initiatives might be taken to accelerate the development of Athy against the background of the forum's report.

It was agreed that a comprehensive profile of Athy would be developed with emphasis on telecommunications, infrastructure and labour availability. In particular, the meeting identified the need for good quality office type accommodation to be provided in the town to enable it to compete for a number of emerging opportunities. A plan of action was agreed with Kildare County Council in this regard with progress to be reviewed at a follow up meeting to take place in Athy on 23 February 2000.

Enterprise Ireland will also be working closely with the local authority representatives on the best possible approach to be taken in presenting Athy to prospective investors. A number of other initiatives are being explored by the agency and the local authority to address the identified problems.

I am confident that, given these initiatives together with the commitment of the people of Athy, the prospects for the future of the town are positive.