asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if, in view of the proposed closure of a firm (details supplied) in County Roscommon with a total loss of 166 jobs, the Government will declare Roscommon a disaster area for job losses; if action will be taken to secure replacement jobs for County Roscommon; and if he will appoint a special team with responsibility for job creation in County Roscommon where over 2,000 are registered as unemployed, over 500 of whom are under 25 years of age.
Written Answers. - Roscommon Unemployment.
379.
I am aware of the very serious unemployment problem in County Roscommon and of the hardship caused by industrial job losses. I am assured that the Industrial Development Authority are doing everything possible to secure new industry for the county.
The IDA have put proposals to the parent company of Stainless Steel Products Ltd., which proposes to cease production next month, for a major modernisation investment which could preserve about half of the employment in the company.
The future of Fenner Stone Ltd., Castlerea, where there have been some redundancies recently, is being assessed by the IDA. Efforts are continuing to secure the takeover of IDE Fashions in Castlerea.
In January last I announced that the IDA had completed grant agreements with three manufacturing projects in County Roscommon — Roscommon Meat Packers Ltd., O.K. Irish Gloves, Roscommon and McDonagh Enterprises, Castlerea which will employ a total of 125 people over the next two years. In addition, a £100,000 R & D grant has been approved for FDK Engineering to develop a milk collection system. Edson Tool and Manufacturing Ltd. will commence production shortly in the IDA's 25,000 sq. feet advance factory in Castlerea. Projected employment in the first year is 40.