Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 4

Written Answers - Job Losses.

Ulick Burke

Question:

89 Mr. U. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of task forces established in County Galway from 1997 to 2001 to replace jobs lost during this period; the locations of these task forces; the membership of each; the number of occasions each has met; if she was present at any of these meetings; the effectiveness and results of each such group to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10909/01]

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

We established one task force in County Galway in the period 1997-2001.

The Ballinasloe inter agency group was established on 23 February 2000 in response to the announcement by AT Cross that it was consolidating its writing instruments manufacturing operations at its headquarters in Rhode Island, thereby reducing by 100 the number of permanent employees at the company's Ballinasloe facility. The company announced in late December 2000 that it intended to fully close the facility with the loss of a further 60 jobs.

The inter-agency comprises of the following members:

Mr. James McDonagh	AT Cross
Ms. Tish Gibbons	SIPTU
Mr. Gerry Bruen	Ballinasloe Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Tony Barrett	FÁS
Mr. Charles Lynch	Galway City & County Enterprise Board
Mr. Tom Kavanagh	Galway County Council
Mr. Seamus Bree	Enterprise Ireland
Mr. Joe Greaney	Westbic
Ms. Mary Molloy	Ballinasloe Urban District Council
Mr. Tom Hyland (Chairman)	IDA Ireland
Mr. Jim Murren	IDA Ireland

The inter agency group has met approximately 12 times. I attended the inaugural meeting of the group.

The group reviews progress of the agencies and liaises closely with relevant local groups, for example, Ballinasloe Chamber of Commerce.

Work is almost complete on the production of a new industrial promotion brochure which will be financed by AT Cross. A skills profile and training requirement study in relation to the AT Cross workforce, is under way by FÁS and SIPTU.

Securing alternative job creating enterprises is one of the group's priorities and considerable progress has been made in this regard. A French company has commenced operations in Ballinasloe, initially at temporary facilities at the Poolboy Industrial Estate. This company is also work ing with its advisors on the design of a new customised facility at the IDA's new Business Park, at Creagh. It is hoped that work will be under way on this new facility in the third quarter of this year. The company will employ 60 people at full production.

IDA Ireland is actively promoting the new 27,000 square feet advance factory for new projects.