Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 2

Written Answers. - Job Losses.

Gerry Reynolds

Question:

229 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action she will take regarding the recent announcement by a company (details supplied) in County Leitrim that it is closing its plant with the loss of 25 jobs. [24012/00]

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

The company is a subsidiary of a small private German company. The company was approved grant assistance by IDA Ireland in 1997 to establish an operation at Carrick-on-Shannon to manufacture kitchen utensils. Last month it was announced that production at the Carrick-on-Shannon plant was to cease. Grant liability is repayable to IDA Ireland.

FÁS placement services have registered ten of the workers from the plant in Carrick-on-Shannon and FÁS is now writing to each of the remaining workers inviting them to attend for a quality registration interview. As a result of this interview process, FÁS will carry out a skills analysis. The skills analysis report will be used by FÁS to organise suitable training courses, based on the needs of the workers, and these will be delivered in the location most appropriate to them. This report will be available to the industrial development agencies. The full facilities available to FÁS north-west will be directed towards helping those workers who need them to return to the workforce as soon as possible.

The company owns its factory in Carrick-on-Shannon, which it intends to sell, and IDA Ireland is liasing closely with the company on marketing the facility for an alternative industry.

Management has informed IDA Ireland that several of the employees have already secured alternative employment in the area. It is also hoped that many of the employees will secure alternative employment at another company which has agreed a project with IDA for Carrick-on-Shannon to create 300 jobs. Construction of a purpose built 50,000 sq.ft. facility for this project is well under way and this company will commence recruitment in the first quarter of 2001.