asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he was informed in advance of the closure of the De La Rue printing works in Clonskeagh, Dublin; whether he has any plans to save the firm; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Clonskeagh (Dublin) Printing Works Closure.
250.
I was extremely disappointed to learn, on 6 October last, of the announcement by Thomas De La Rue & Co. Ltd., of its intention to close its factory at Clonskeagh early next month. Neither I nor the Industrial Development Authority was informed of the company's intentions prior to the notification to the workforce.
There was no obligation on the company to inform me beforehand of what it planned to do. Nevertheless, I would have thought it appropriate that I should be informed in advance, in view of the number of employees involved, the fact that there had been considerable redundancies in 1982, and the substantial State assistance given over the past decade for capital investment by the company.
The company is part of the De La Rue group of companies and is engaged in the printing of bank notes for export markets. The IDA have had discussions with the group arising from the announcement of the intention to close the Clonskeagh factory. The decision has been attributed to a continued decline in the market for its services. The group has stated that this decline has also caused a reduction in employment in its UK operations.
The group has agreed to retain the plant in Clonskeagh on a care and maintenance basis while it reviews its market position to see if new business could be generated that would justify a resumption of work at Clonskeagh.