Vol. 549 No. 2
63 Mr. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make a statement on the future of a factory (details supplied) in County Galway; her plans to introduce another industry into the town; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the workforce has to travel many miles to work in Galway and elsewhere. [6131/02]
The company in question is one of the longest established Irish owned electronics manufacturers in the country.
Unfortunately, there has been a significant decrease in sales recently resulting in the company having to downsize for the present. The company has laid off 14 of its 28 operative staff for a period of eight weeks while the remaining operative staff and office staff have been reduced to a three day week.
To assist with the rapid changes in technology in some of the sectors supplied by this company, a research and development grant was approved for the company in September 2001. The project is currently under way and the linkages department of Enterprise Ireland are actively engaged in seeking potential opportunities for the company.
Both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland continue to promote the area for new industry. However, the Deputy understand that the final decision on where a project locates rests with the promoter of the particular project.
