Vol. 549 No. 4
61 Mr. Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps taken by her in conjunction with the Laois Jobs Task Force to provide job creation ventures and investment in County Laois following the closure of a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7028/02]
The Laois inter-agency task force, under the chairmanship of Michael Malone, county manager of Laois County Council, comprises membership from IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, FÁS, the county enterprise board, SIPTU, IBEC, Laois County Council and local industry. The task force has been very active since the closure of the company and is continuing to work to achieve a successful outcome. For the former employees of the Portarlington facility, FÁS has provided a comprehensive guidance, training and placement service to both permanent and seasonal staff and I understand that at this stage over 260 have secured alternative employment. FÁS has also provided a profile of skills available in County Laois and these details are available for potential employers.
The factory has been purchased by a property developer who plans to develop the facility and surrounding lands for industrial purposes and is liaising closely with IDA Ireland. A brochure on County Laois, promoting the facility, has been produced and circulated to all IDA overseas offices and project divisions in headquarters for active marketing. During 2001, 11 overseas companies visited Portlaoise and five visited Portarlington.
In November 2000, ebm Industries Ltd. announced its intention to locate in the 25,000 sq. ft. advance factory on IDA Ireland's business and technology park in Portlaoise. The company currently employs 11 people in the manufacture of cooling systems for the electronics and communications industries. The project will employ 145 people at full development. Planning permission has been granted for a 17,000 sq. ft. office facility in the IDA business park in Portlaoise and construction is underway at present. The office facility is to be completed in August 2002. Planning permission has also been granted for the construction of two advance factories of 25,000 sq. ft. each. Construction of both factories will commence in late 2002.
