Ba mhaith liom buíochas a thabairt as cead an tairiscint seo a thabairt. The announcement yesterday that Herdmans of Ballybofey is closing down, with the loss of 85 jobs, came as a bombshell to the Ballybofey and Finn valley areas. Herdmans is a unique company and has provided valuable employment for many years on both sides of the Border. It set an example of what cross-Border industrial co-operation can achieve. This is the second major blow to the Finn valley area in recent months. In January, Nena Models in Stranorlar laid off a total of 43 employees. This was also a severe blow to industrial employment in the Finn valley.
The closure of Herdmans in Ballybofey leaves industrial and unemployment devastation in its wake and it is another chapter in the long and sad litany of factory closures and job losses throughout County Donegal in recent years. If one includes Fruit of the Loom, I estimate that there have been at least 3,000 job losses in Donegal in recent years. No county can afford such a haemorrhage of employment. The employees of Herdman's have given long and loyal service to the company. Many of them are the sole breadwinners for their families. Many are mortgage holders and are burdened with many more financial responsibilities. The announcement is a shock to those who now face a bleak future on the unemployment register. It will also have serious economic implications for that part of County Donegal.
Earlier this week, the IDA published its annual report which once more makes sad reading for Donegal and the north west. It again puts the region at the bottom of the list for job creation. Every region, with the exception of Donegal and the north west, shows significant increases in the numbers employed in IDA assisted industries. While total jobs created nationally increased by more than 16,000, there was an overall reduction of 96 in the north west. This is not an isolated occurrence. The same trend has continued each year since 1996. It is disgraceful and obviously the political commitment is not forthcoming to reverse the situation.
The Government appears to be taking Donegal for granted. The huge political support it receives from the county, where five out of six Deputies are supporters, is not obviously appreciated by the Government. At this stage, we are sick of rhetoric and empty promises. We cannot continue year after year to receive such body blows on the employment front. It is no wonder that Donegal is top of the league as far as unemployment is concerned, but bottom of the league as far as new jobs are concerned. I am asking that an emergency plan be adopted for the Finn valley. This area should immediately be declared a top priority region for job replacement. I refer not alone to Ballybofey-Stranorlar where this factory is located, but to other towns such as Drumkeen, Convoy, Castlefin and Killygordon.
It may not be too late to retrieve the serious situation in Herdmans. I appeal to the Minister and to all Government agencies to come together to save as many of these jobs as possible. For those who are losing their livelihoods, a generous package of remuneration must be available.
I have stood here on too many occasions in recent years to make pleas such as this on the occasion of closures in County Donegal. I hope I will not have to do so again in the near future.