Cecilia Keaveney
Question:58 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current position in relation to a factory (details supplied) in County Donegal. [18815/00]
Written Answers. - Job Losses.
Fruit of the Loom informed its workforce and the unions on 28 October 1999 that the company would implement a number of measures to maintain its competitiveness in the marketplace.
One of the measures involved implementing redundancies in the fabric, sewing and services departments at Buncrana. These redundancies 190 took place in January 2000 and are as a result of aligning the company's requirements with its order book. The redundancy terms were negotiated and agreed with SIPTU. Although the business will continue to react to challenges no further job losses are expected in 2000. Therefore it is expected that almost 1,000 jobs will be maintained at Buncrana this year. Current employment is 970. The company is still committed to maintaining a minimum of 600 jobs at Buncrana until 2006.
The IDA has reached agreement with Fruit of the Loom and the owner of a building currently occupied by Fruit of the Loom that this building can be marketed for new inward investment. A number of itineraries have visited the area but as yet no progress can be reported.