Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021
130. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of plans to replace jobs lost at a company (details supplied); the efforts being made in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23674/21]
View answerThe closure of the Aptar plant in Ballinasloe was a very disappointing development for the region and I am keenly aware of the blow this has been for the affected employees and their families.
IDA Ireland has been working with the company to market the plant to potential investors, using the employee skills audit in their efforts to attract new investment to Ballinasloe. The IDA has introduced a number of companies who are interested in the Ballinasloe facility to the Aptar management team and has also arranged visits to the site. These discussions are ongoing. In the meantime, IDA Ireland continues to market the site to both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland clients.
IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices continue to work with stakeholders in the region to secure sustainable employment opportunities in the West, including in Ballinasloe. IDA has engaged with Ballinasloe Area Community Development (BACD) and is utilising local video content promoting Ballinasloe produced by BACD. While the process is still under way, I was encouraged to hear that 60 former Aptar employees had already secured alternative employment by the end of 2020.
My Department’s Regional Enterprise Plans, including for the West, are focused on strengthening the regional ecosystem to enable job creation. I met with the West Regional Enterprise Steering Committee in December 2020, which comprises representatives of IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the Local Authorities, LEOs, private sector, and Western Development Commission amongst others, to discuss enterprise potential in the West. I requested that they refresh the Plan for the West to cover the period to 2024. I have asked Minister of State Robert Troy to work closely with the Committee in this task and he has since met with the Committee (on 2nd March last) to get this work underway.
I have also appointed a new Chairperson to the West Regional Enterprise Plan Steering Committee, Ms. Evelyn O’Toole of Complete Laboratory Solutions Galway. In addition, the Local Authorities and the Western Development Commission have begun a recruitment process to appoint a full-time Programme Manager to support the development and implementation of the Regional Enterprise Plan in the West. While this activity is continuing, the Western Development Commission has made available a Programme Manager on a temporary basis.
