Written Answers. - Industrial Development.
Simon Coveney
Question:
24
Mr. Coveney
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
her plans to assist the former employees of IFI in Cork to find future employment through prioritising the area for the future location of industry.
[24892/02]
The development agencies – Enterprise Ireland, FÁS and the IDA – have adopted a co-ordinated approach in response to the closure of the major IFI plants in both Cork and Arklow, and the approach is directed at assisting all employees affected by the closure. These supportive efforts have been agreed with the management of IFI who are facilitating the process at both plants. The co-ordinated approach has two objectives; to enhance and facilitate the future employment prospects of the IFI workforce and to identify and support any individual who wishes to start his or her own business.
With regard to the first objective, the process being undertaken involves registering the occupation and assessing the skill level of all ex – IFI employees. In conjunction with this, the job prospects and skill requirements in Cork are being assessed and Enterprise Ireland are encouraging local companies to consider IFI employees for job opportunities. Guidance interviews are being provided by FÁS for all ex-IFI employees. FÁS is also providing retraining courses to facilitate future job prospects of IFI employees, with course content devised to match existing and projected local requirements and job vacancies are continuously being notified by FÁS to the IFI human resources manager in Cork.
With regard to the second objective, presentations have been made in both Cork and Arklow by Enterprise Ireland and the County Enterprise Board executives on starting your own business. These courses detail the range of supports available from EI and the CEBs. In addition, follow up one to one interviews have been offered to employees interested in starting their own businesses.
With regard to Cork specifically in early November Enterprise Ireland wrote to its client companies in the areas of east Cork and Cork city advising them of the pool of labour that had become available from the IFI closure. The letter outlined the range of skills involved and a contact point.
For its part, the IDA south-west office is continuing its focus of attracting new business to regional locations such as Macroom, West Cork Technology Park, Clonakilty and Charleville and to continue to promote the IDA site at Ringaskiddy. East Cork is promoted by the IDA as a unit, comprising Cobh, Youghal, Midleton, Carrigtwohill and Little Island. There has been steady development in Carrigtwohill through new investment and through the expansion of existing industries there. Overall, ten new IDA projects in Cork have been announced in 2002 which will create some 1,120 jobs. A significant proportion of these jobs will be in the international traded services sector.
