asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware of forthcoming redundancies in a textile mill in Cork (details supplied); and the steps he is taking to provide alternative employment for the people concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Mill.
10.
Notification of the proposed redundancies in the textile mill in question was received in my Department on 10th June, 1975. Officials of the National Manpower Service and AnCO have been in touch with the receiver and the company's management.
There are nine new industrial projects being set up in the Cork area by the IDA which are expected to provide approximately 1,920 new jobs, and it is expected that a number of existing projects in the Cork city area will provide a further 600 jobs during 1975-76, a net total of 2,520 new jobs.
We are getting a bit bogged down with all these promises of jobs in 1976 and 1977. What I want to know is the effective measures being taken by the Government in the textile industry and in regard to the redundancies we have in the Douglas and Blarney areas where there are more than 400 workers being rendered redundant in July. How many of these have already been interviewed by the National Manpower Service, how many have been listed for retraining, have any of them already been placed in training courses, and when can we hope that a reasonable number of people will be given employment?
The Deputy is raising other questions.
I am raising the question of unemployment which you, Sir, raised quite frequently when you were on these benches.
The Deputy must allow the Chair to govern these matters.
The officials of the National Manpower Service and the training authority have been in touch with the people involved. I am sure the Deputy is aware of the most recent intervention of the Minister for Industry and Commerce with the Commission in Brussels. The crisis in the textile industry began to make its appearance as far back as the early sixties. Like every other industrial area, there is large unemployment in County Cork but there are new possibilities coming up and the National Manpower Service have been in touch with those concerned.
Is the Minister aware of meetings between the people from this mill and the Minister for Industry and Commerce? What was the outcome of those meetings, and can the workers concerned look forward with any degree of hope to a Government that appears to have no interest in employment?
It would be a misconception on the part of the Deputy to think that I had no interest——
There are many people throughout the country who are under the same impression. Can the Minister say if he is aware of the meetings with the Minister for Industry and Commerce and what was the outcome of those meetings? Is there any hope of that mill being protected even at this late stage?
I do not have any detailed information other than knowing that the meetings took place.
With his responsibility for the Department of Labour, is the Minister aware that there are 150 jobs at stake?
I am fulfilling my responsibility, which is to attempt to secure jobs for those who are at present casualties——
Is the only function the Minister has or what he thinks he has as Minister for Labour in regard to retraining? Basically, what we want are jobs for our people.
The Deputy, as Opposition spokesman for Labour, knows the job function my Department has. It relates to obtaining through the National Manpower Service as many jobs as I can for those who are unemployed. Creation of new jobs is a matter for another agency. All I can say is that the Deputy's imagination is partisan and faulty.
In view of the Minister's contribution to the debate on the budget in which he said he would welcome the opportunity for his Department to be involved in the employment premium scheme, has the Minister impressed on the Government his anxiety——
The Deputy is getting involved in other matters.
Gabh mo leithscéal, a Cheann Comhairle, tá 34 ceisteanna anseo d'Aire na Gaeltachta. Céin fáith nach bhfuil sé anseo chun iad a fhreagairt?
Tá an tAire ag cruinniú. Tá sé ar tóir monarcha, Uimhir a 32.
Seo masla don Ghaeltacht.
Bhí an tAire anseo chuile lá an tseachtain seo caite agus níor cuireadh ceist air——
Ceist a 11.