Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
511. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports the Industrial Development Agengy or his Department give to a company (details supplied) that recently announced its intention to close its operation in Cork, including the details and values of any monetary supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37533/13]
View answerIDA Ireland approved a Training Grant for the company in question on 8th July 2009. To date that Agency has paid a total grant amount of €99,548 to the company. This payment was paid on the 20th December 2011. The IDA also approved a Research Development & Innovation Grant in January 2012, but none of this grant has been paid. There are no outstanding liabilities to the IDA.
The jobs at the Cork operation were across a broad range of functions including game production, business development, HR/recruitment and IT. However the project did not proceed as originally envisaged and a significantly higher proportion of the work was undertaken in the company’s head office. Regrettably, as part of a global cost-cutting initiative, the company decided to close the Cork operation with the loss of the 89 jobs. The company informed employees of its decision on 22 August last, and a 30 day consultation process with employees commenced. Its North American operations have also been affected. The cuts are as a result of certain areas of the company’s operations not growing or performing as expected. This is a very unfortunate development but one driven by the commercial reality facing the company.
