Danny Healy-Rae
Question:33. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of jobs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45179/20]
View answerWednesday, 13 January 2021
Questions (33)
Written answers
The announcement last July by Borg Warner that it will close its facility in Tralee was very disappointing. This facility has been a substantial employer in Tralee and a major contributor to the economy of the locality and wider region over the past 30 years. The news was deeply distressing in particular for the workers and families who were directly impacted by the decision.
IDA Ireland has engaged extensively with the company, both in Tralee and its Corporate Headquarters, since the announcement, to explore options for the marketing of the facility and its skilled workforce and to highlight the range of supports available to impacted employees. IDA Ireland and others are also actively exploring opportunities to identify other businesses who may have skills requirements and employment opportunities for the impacted employees, locally and across the region.
Local stakeholders, including the local offices of the Department of Social Protection (Intreo), Munster Technological University, Tralee and Kerry Education and Training Board have been in contact with the company offering their services to provide assistance to the impacted employees in areas of retraining, education, starting your own business and income supports. Borg Warner is also committed to providing supports to their employees.
Borg Warner have indicated that they are not hiring replacement labour in place of existing jobs.
In December 2020, 80 people working at the facility departed and prior to this a small number of contractors were temporarily employed by the company to meet production volumes to year-end. As planned and previously communicated by Borg Warner, they will close the facility on 31 March 2021.
Despite this disappointing development, I am confident that we will be able to attract replacement investment for Tralee. There are currently 17 IDA Ireland client companies in Kerry employing 2,153 staff. IDA Ireland will continue and redouble its efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investment to Kerry, notwithstanding the serious global economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on global FDI flows. IDA Ireland has just launched its new four-year strategy and as part of its property development programme, is committed to developing a new Advance Building Solution in Tralee to support the winning of additional FDI. The focus is, and will continue to be, on supporting existing companies and attracting new investment to Kerry and to all parts of Ireland.