Vol. 497 No. 5
72 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when her attention was drawn to difficulties in a factory (details supplied) in County Mayo; and the steps, if any, she took to prevent the closure of this factory. [25652/98]
73 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she met with representatives from the IDA and from a factory (details supplied) in County Mayo in relation to difficulties at the factory; if so, when the meetings took place; the individuals she met with; and the outcome of these meetings. [25653/98]
74 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the grant assistance, if any, paid to a factory (details supplied) in County Mayo, or its parent company in County Galway, in the past two years on the proposed extension to employee numbers; if so, the amount; and if this grant sum can now be reclaimed from the company due to the impending closure of the Ballinrobe factory. [25654/98]
75 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps, if any, she has taken and the plans, if any, she has to ensure that an alternative industry is secured for Ballinrobe, County Mayo (details supplied). [25655/98]
76 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the economic effect approximately to Ballinrobe, County Mayo, as a result of the closure of a factory (details supplied) in the town. [25656/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 73, 74, 75 and 76 together.
I was informed in early October last that the staff of Betatherm in Ballinrobe were being put on a week by week notice. In the interim regular briefing notes were supplied to my Department to keep me informed of the situation at the company.
While I did not meet with representatives from Enterprise Ireland or from the company, I was kept fully informed of developments. In this regard, I was aware that Enterprise Ireland was engaged in on—going contact with Betatherm in an effort to resolve the difficulties which the company was encountering and to safeguard jobs at the Ballinrobe plant. Regrettably, the company was faced with a seriously deteriorating market situation and it considered that it could no longer maintain the Ballinrobe operation.
I am informed that Enterprise Ireland-IDA Ireland has grant-aided Betatherm (Ireland) in Ballinrobe on a number of occasions since its establishment. In the past two years a total of £156,000 was paid by Enterprise Ireland-IDA Ireland to the company in respect of expansion plans approved prior to 1996. Under the legal agreement which the company entered into in respect of those grants, Enterprise Ireland will enter into discussions with the company concerning repayment of any relevant moneys.
I am conscious of the economic impact of the job losses at Betatherm on the Ballinrobe area. The development agencies are committed to the development of all regions in Ireland and are working closely with industry and local interests to promote industrial development in the Mayo area through the attraction of new industry and the expansion of existing industry. I have asked the agencies to intensify their efforts to facilitate additional industrial investment and job maintenance in the Mayo region.
In this regard, I was very pleased to announce yesterday that McHale Engineering, Claremorris is to expand its operation in Mayo and that this expansion will involve the construction and equipment of a new 50,000 sq. ft. factory in Ballinrobe. McHale Engineering Ltd. is a family owned company specialising in the manufacture of silage bale wrapping equipment. Employment at the company is to increase from 60 to 120 people. This expansion will greatly benefit the local economy and help reduce the impact of the Betatherm closure on the area.
