Cecilia Keaveney
Ceist:54 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position in relation to the Fruit of the Loom plants in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15006/99]
Written Answers. - Job Protection.
The Fruit of the Loom plants based in Malin, Milford, Raphoe and Buncrana remain open on a temporary basis despite the announcements regarding an earlier timetable for their closure and the loss of additional jobs at Ballymacarry, Buncrana. Approximately 770 people were formally made redundant at the end of April 1999 when the Fruit of the Loom plants at Malin, Milford and Raphoe were due to close. The redundancy payments were made at that time. The affected employees were then offered temporary employment on a week to week basis. Many of them accepted this offer and are still employed.
There are currently 1,991 workers employed at all four plants in County Donegal. The most likely position is that all of the redundant employees on temporary contracts will be laid off at some stage in July. This will result in the closure of Malin Head and Milford and also the cessation of T-shirt production at Raphoe. Fleece production will continue at Raphoe until the end of September 1999. In anticipation of the job losses in Fruit of the Loom, IDA Ireland over recent months intensified its promotional programme of County Donegal, in close association with the Donegal Employment Initiative.
The extensions to the closure dates originally announced by Fruit of the Loom have significantly affected the initial plans prepared by the Donegal Employment Initiative for training programmes to be provided in response to the specified requests of the redundant workers. The redundant employees on temporary contracts have all been advised that they will have the same opportunity to avail of these training programmes when the plant closures eventually take effect.