Vol. 525 No. 2
242 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position with regard to the task force set up in Ballinrobe, County Mayo in 1999; if there will be any job announcements for the area; and the plans that the Government has to secure alternative industry for this town. [24606/00]
I established the Ballinrobe Task Force in January 1999 following the closure of the Betatherm Ireland Limited plant.
The task force undertook a study concerning the 35 employees of the company. Thirty employees responded to the questionnaire and it was discovered that, of these 30, 17 had found alternative employment.
The local employment services group also organised training for 14 people by FÁS in order to assist these people to return to work.
Both Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland fully recognise the need to attract new business into Ballinrobe. The promotion of the 22,000 sq.ft. advance factory in the town is very much a priority for IDA Ireland at present.
The industrial development agencies promote each location to its best advantage. However, it is important to realise that the final decision on where any project locates is made by the promoter of the project and not by the agencies.
Both Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland continue to work with existing companies in the area in an effort to develop them and encourage expansion of their businesses if at all possible.
It is recognised that significant investments in infrastructure have been made by Mayo County Council, all of which are beneficial to the marketing effort in attracting new investments.
Finally, I am hopeful that the fact that Ballinrobe is in the new Border, midlands and west region, with the positive EU differential for this region compared to the rest of the country, will lead to the generation of new projects for the area.
