Vol. 544 No. 3
132 Mr. Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has received an interim report from the task force established following the closure of a company (details supplied) in Macroom, County Cork; the proposals emanating from this task force report; and the efforts being made to procure an alternative replacement industry for the region. [25969/01]
I understand that the interim report of the task force is at an advanced stage of preparation and I expect to receive it by mid-December 2001.
The search for a new project to locate in the facility in Macroom has been a key priority for the task force since its establishment in August 2001, following the announcement of the decision to close the company.
IDA Ireland is targeting the following options to seek a new project: a new greenfield project from overseas, an expansion led project from the existing base of overseas companies in Ireland that may require a new building-location and a detailed retargeting of companies that visited Cork recently. Details of the facility will be sent to these companies to encourage them to include the company's building in their location analyses and urgent follow-up on any location queries generated by the publicity surrounding the closure announcement. The key target sectors are pharmaceuticals-medical devices, international services and information and communications technologies.
Since the closure was announced, four companies have visited the facility. The brochure produced by the task force, and funded by the company, has been distributed to IDA offices worldwide, IDA project divisions and to target companies worldwide.
133 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date by each of the task forces or special committees under the aegis of her Department arising from company closures; the progress made by each such body; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28640/01]
The following task forces established to address company closures are operating under the aegis of my Department: North Mayo Enterprise Initiative; Laois Task Force; Dundalk Inter Agency Group; Thurles Inter Agency Group; Macroom Task Force; Drogheda Inter Agency Group.
These task forces, of which the last three in the list were established in recent months, are focusing on attracting replacement industry, assisting the expansion of existing industry and the provision of training/re-training for workers affected by company closures, and infrastructure.
Arising out of the work of these task forces, significant job creation projects have already located in a number of the areas covered e.g., North Mayo (Ballina): Lionbridge Technologies, Dekko Heating; Technologies, Coca Cola and Oasis and Laois (Portlaoise), Ebm Industries Limited, Irish Life (Retail).
