Following the closure of the Betatherm Ireland Limited plant in Ballinrobe I established an inter agency task force for Ballinrobe under the chairmanship of the Mayo County Manager, with a view to focusing on the generation and attraction of new business opportunities in the area.
The task force undertook a study concerning the 35 employees of the former Betatherm Ireland Limited. Some 30 employees responded to the questionnaire and it was discovered that, of these 30, 17 have found employment.
The task force has held five formal meetings to date and in addition to this the chairman maintains regular contact with the group and receives updates from IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Mayo County Enterprise Board.
The development agencies' commitment to the Border, midlands and west regions has meant that promotional efforts are being redoubled for these areas including Ballinrobe. There have been significant increases in employment in south Mayo since the setting up of the task force.
Successes include: the creation of 116 jobs by Delta Dental in Claremorris with potential to increase employment to 150; the announcement in May 1999 by Cedar Group Plc. of its intention to establish a financial services call centre in Castlebar with potential to create 150 new jobs. Cedar currently employs 66 people in the call centre and a further 50 in a software development facility; the announcement in May 1999 by Baxter Healthcare Limited of a £30 million expansion at their sites in Swinford and Castlebar to create 220 jobs.
I hope to receive a final report from the task force in the near future.
