The Government is totally committed to the retention and expansion of our Manufacturing sector. The new Manufacturing Strategy, which I launched last year sets out an ambitious target to create an additional 20,000 jobs by 2016 and a range of actions are underway to drive that target. It is very heartening that after several years of significant job losses in that sector, job levels are now rising. However within that manufacturing sector there are many different sub sectors and some face greater challenges than others. The aircraft engine maintenance sector is one of those facing a particularly difficult set of circumstances due to global factors, including over capacity in the industry and changing dynamics in the way the players interact.
With regard to skills specifically for manufacturing, I also commissioned a detailed report, prepared last year by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs/Forfas and this identified key actions to help ensure that the required skills are available for the sector. Work is in hand to drive those actions, particularly with the various educational and training bodies.
In relation to Lufthansa, IDA Ireland, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland, has been actively seeking to attract new employment opportunities for the workers being made redundant. The agencies have been targeting existing and prospective clients highlighting the skills and capabilities of these employees as a key attractor. The Agencies have had on-going engagement with the relevant educational bodies to evaluate potential training and up-skilling supports for these employees. Despite extremely difficult global market conditions in that particular sector, every effort is being made to help attract alternative employment opportunities.
While we do have several companies thriving in various aspects of aircraft maintenance, employing about 4,000 staff, including two very successful companies at Dublin Airport and another Lufthansa operation in Shannon, the engine casing repair companies have been under very severe pressure, largely due to global changes.
Given the various global pressures and factors which arise from time to time for specific sectors and sub-sectors of industry, and the free-market business environment in which we operate, it is not possible to ensure that in the case of every closure, that mechanisms are in place to ensure that immediate re-employment of staff who have been made redundant. However every effort is made by the relevant State bodies to mitigate the adverse impacts involved and to try to ensure that re-employment opportunities are maximised. This is particularly important in the case of high skilled employees.
