Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2006
329 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of job losses in counties Wicklow and Carlow in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40505/06]
View answerThe attached tabular statement sets out the numbers of job gains and job losses in respect of full-time employment in companies assisted by the enterprise development agencies (Enterprise Ireland and IDA) in Counties Wicklow and Carlow for the years 2001 to 2005.
It is important to remember that job creation and job losses are a feature of economic development in all countries as various sectors expand and contract in response to market demand for goods and services, competitive forces, restructuring and technological change. The importance of gainful employment for society, however, means that efforts to create employment opportunities to replace those lost over time are an important objective of enterprise policy. Where job losses occur, the development agencies — Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, the County Enterprise Boards and FÁS — have adopted a coordinated approach in order to enhance and facilitate the future employment prospects of the workforce and to identify and support any individual who wishes to start their own business. In addition the enterprise agencies work closely with key local partners including Local Authorities, Chambers of Commerce, educational institutions etc to develop the local infrastructure and skills base to best effect.
The enterprise development agencies are committed to promoting Wicklow and Carlow as locations for investment, as well as supporting and developing businesses already present in these county. IDA Ireland continues to work with its existing base of companies with a view to supporting such companies with potential expansions and the agency also targets potential new investment projects in the International Services Sector and high value manufacturing activities. The proximity of both counties to Dublin together with a readily available pool of skilled workers and excellent quality of life combines to enhance their attractiveness in encouraging overseas mobile investment and the level of new jobs created year on year is a testament to this. Carlow's two third level colleges, the Institute of Technology Carlow and St. Patrick's College are critical to ensuring that Carlow and the region develop educational and research capabilities to support existing and new investment.
The continued commitment by IDA Ireland to Carlow is evidenced by the development of a Flagship Business and Technology Park on the Dublin road, an investment of almost €11.5m to date. A 17,600 sq ft Advance Office Building on the Technology Park with 100% expansion capability was completed in November 2005. IDA is actively marketing the building and park through our network of overseas offices.
There continues to be a good level of expansion activity from the existing industry base in Wicklow especially in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Technological sectors. In October 2006 Servier Pharmaceuticals announced 112 job (over 5 years) expansion with €69m investment to increase production of existing products and additional 2 new products. The County's key locations for promotion to potential overseas investors at present are IDA Arklow Business Park (c.80 acres) Greystones Business & Technology Park (75 acres) and IDA Bray Business Park (50 acres).
Enterprise Ireland activity, in terms of job creation, is focused on the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies, the creation of new jobs by supporting entrepreneurs to set up High Potential Start-Up Companies and also through enhancing the innovation capability of Ireland at a national and regional level by supporting research in companies and third level institutions.
|
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
Totals |
|
|
Wicklow |
||||||
|
Losses |
-901 |
-513 |
-760 |
-1,019 |
-1,889 |
-5,082 |
|
Gains |
1,100 |
997 |
1,184 |
539 |
759 |
4,579 |
|
Net |
199 |
484 |
424 |
-480 |
-1,130 |
-503 |
|
Carlow |
||||||
|
Losses |
-135 |
-341 |
-203 |
-479 |
-399 |
-1,557 |
|
Gains |
217 |
186 |
182 |
177 |
162 |
924 |
|
Net |
82 |
-155 |
-21 |
-302 |
-237 |
-633 |
Source: Forfás Business Information System.
330 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will intervene to encourage a group (details supplied) to engage with the Labour Relations Commission for the purpose of determining a reasonable redundancy package for the former employees of Castlemahon Foods, County Limerick and not have the matter referred to the Labour Relations Agency in Northern Ireland as suggested by the group. [40602/06]
View answerAs a result of trading difficulties in the poultry sector, in February 2005 Castlemahon Foods announced a restructuring plan which involved a reduction in staff numbers of 150 — down from 410 to 260. In May of that year, the company confirmed that workers at the company had accepted its redundancy offer by a large majority. Unfortunately, matters continued to decline into 2006 resulting in the company going into voluntary liquidation at the end of September with the loss of the remaining 260 jobs. Since it was liquidated by its parent company, the O'Kane Group of Northern Ireland, the workers received statutory redundancy only. The union has sought an enhanced package along the lines of three weeks pay per year of service, plus statutory.
I understand the Labour Relations Commission has agreed to facilitate talks between the O'Kane Group, the trade union and employee representatives regarding the claim for an enhanced redundancy package for the former employees of Castlemahon Foods and a meeting to this effect was held yesterday. The LRC will continue to remain in contact with the parties on the matter.
