Vol. 541 No. 4
193 Mr. Dennehy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will provide information regarding the developments at the Irish ISPAT plant in Cork; and her plans for the development of industry in the Cork harbour area. [23159/01]
I understand that Mr. Ray Jackson of KPMG was appointed as liquidator to Irish ISPAT Limited on 28 June 2001 and that the liquidation process is under way. My Department has paid over £1.5 million in statutory redundancy to the former employees of Irish ISPAT. Minimum notice claims in respect of former employees were heard by the Employment Appeals Tribunal in Cork on 18 September 2001, and the decision of the tribunal is expected in the very near future. Claims for outstanding wages and holiday pay to a total of over £432,000 have also been paid under the insolvency payments scheme. The claims for minimum notice compensation and outstanding occupational pension fund contributions are expected shortly.
Following the closure of Irish ISPAT, the Government approved, at my request, a proposal to seek funding from the European Coal and Steel Community – ECSC – to enhance the statutory entitlements of workers made redundant as a result of the closure of the steel plant. My Department then applied to the European Commission for ECSC re-adaptation aid under Article 56(2)(f2>b) of the ECSC treaty for the ISPAT workers and also for certain on-site contract workers who were made redundant as a result of the closure of Irish ISPAT and who qualify for aid under ECSC rules. It is expected that a formal decision on the application will be made by the European Commission in November. Part of the conditions for receipt of ECSC aid is that the member state concerned should pay a special contribution to the redundant workers which would at least match the amount to be paid by the Commission. The Government has agreed to the provision of this matching funding.
There are currently 132 IDA Ireland assisted companies in Cork employing a total of 18,174 people. The Cork area has become a major centre for the software development industry. The major focus of IDA Ireland for 2001 and beyond will be to attract new business to regional locations such as West Cork Technology Park, Clonakilty, Charleville, and to continue to promote the IDA Ireland site at Ringaskiddy. IDA Ireland currently owns 400 acres of serviced land at Ringaskiddy and this is being promoted for future foreign direct investment including the pharma and biotechnology industry.
IDA Ireland has extended its industrial site in Carrigtwohill by 70 acres and this is in the catchment area of Cobh. Last year two of the foreign companies there announced expansion projects, Millipore, 220 jobs, and Stryker Corporation, 200 jobs. Both of these companies are currently recruiting.
