It is most disappointing that the Tánaiste is not present to reply to this debate. It is the usual situation with the Tánaiste – she will always be seen where there is good news but never where there is bad news. I have yet to see her in the House when there is trouble or when people lose their jobs and livelihoods. However, she will be seen on television when jobs or something good is due to be announced. It is a case of "Mary good news", never "Mary bad news". It is the same this evening for this debate on the situation in Athy. It is a disgrace.
My colleague, Deputy Power, was anxious to raise this matter but, unfortunately, due to a long standing prior commitment he is unable to be present tonight to do so. We were due to share time on the issue.
On a recent visit to Athy, the Tánaiste said Athy was a strong candidate for decentralisation. That news was well received and I am sure she, like everybody else, was unaware of the devastating news that was to be announced last Friday. The closure of Peerless Rug factory, with the immediate loss of 65 jobs, is a severe blow to the economy of Athy. No doubt other jobs in the town are now vulnerable as a result of the knock on effect of this closure. Athy has suffered many blows in recent years in its industrial development. Numerous factories have closed, including Pyma, Sherwood Medical, Woodform and Hickeys. Previously, there were the closures of Wallboard and IVI. Job losses have also occurred in other factories.
The continuous haemorrhage of employment must stop. I repeat my call to the Tánaiste, despite her absence from the House, to establish a task force for the region, as has been successfully done in other employment blackspots such as Tallaght and Clonmel. It is imperative that the positive work currently being done by Athy UDC, the chamber of commerce and the county council is supported by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It must provide the expertise and support required to overcome this latest employment setback to hit Athy.
Athy is a pivotal town for the development of the south Kildare area. The Government must provide the necessary expertise, funding and political will for the future development of the area. So far, that commitment has been lacking from the Government. A commitment to decentralise a major Government agency or Department should form a key part of the strategy to renew employment in the town. This must go hand in hand with an all out effort to attract new investment to the area, given that there is now an advance factory and three other premises that are fully equipped for the needs of the modern economy lying idle there.
Athy is making great strides on all other fronts. There are proposals at present for a shopping mall and a number of other commercial and residential developments in the town. A new technical college and a new PE hall for the two secondary schools are in the pipeline. A proposal for a new swimming pool and work on 1,300 new housing units have either commenced or are at planning stage. All of this is good news which is, alas, deflated by the latest factory closure.
I ask the Tánaiste to give a commitment to the people of Athy and south Kildare by agreeing to the provision of an employment task force and a commitment to decentralise a Government agency to the town. In addition, it is imperative that the best quality training is now provided for the workers who lost their jobs in the Peerless Rug factory so they and their families can look forward to an early return to the workforce. These families have supported this industry since it started in the town in 1973. Many of the workers are now in their forties or early fifties and will find it difficult to get employment unless a proper structure is put in place to give them the necessary training to secure alternative employment.
It is imperative the Government does this as a matter of urgency. The Government must instruct FÁS and other relevant State agencies to come to Athy and put a structure in place to meet the demands of these families. The Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, must convey to the Tánaiste the disappointment of the people of Athy about this closure and the fact that she has made no response to it in the last few days.
