asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism the proposals which have come so far from the task force on jobs in the Sligo area which was set up after Snia closed; the number of meetings held, the date of their last meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Sligo Task Force.
64.
I am informed by the Industrial Development Authority that following the closure of the Snia plant, a task force was established in Sligo in October 1983 comprising representatives of IDA, Sligo and Leitrim County Development Teams, AnCO, the National Manpower Service, Sligo Chamber of Commerce and Sligo Council of Trade Unions. Its specific terms of reference were to make an immediate response to the closure of Snia through intensively promoting the small industries programme among the ex-Snia employees and generally in the Snia catchment area. The task force met ten times, the last meeting being in September 1984.
During the period the Task Force was in operation, employment workshops were held in Sligo and Manorhamilton at which over 200 unemployed people were given individual counselling by representatives of the organisations involved. The IDA and the county development teams in Sligo and Leitrim advised and assisted those who were interested in starting their own businesses. Moreover there was intensive promotion of the assistance available from the State agencies for manufacturing enterprises. In the year during which the task force was in operation the IDA approved 25 small industrial projects with a job potential of 180.