Vol. 499 No. 3
134 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress, if any, made by the task force appointed by her in relation to securing a replacement industry or industries in Mullingar, County Westmeath, to replace the Tarkett Limited industry which relocated at the end of 1998 with the loss of more than 150 jobs for Mullingar and the surrounding areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2847/99]
The task force has been focusing on the twin tasks of finding replacement industry and undertaking a skills assessment of the redundant workers. Since the task force was established, five separate site visits have been made to the Tarkett factory by potential investors. One of these companies has expressed an interest in the facility, and IDA Ireland is aggressively pursuing this option. In the meantime, however, IDA continues to market the facility to other interested parties. FÁS has compiled a skills profile of the Tarkett workers and has identified their interests and aspirations. Some 16 people have registered for existing courses and further specialised courses are being developed. Thirty three people have found alternative employment.
