Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017
157. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to ensure that training opportunities, help and support are put in place by Enterprise Ireland to support the 33 manufacturing workers that will lose their jobs in a company (details supplied) in October 2017 when manufacturing will cease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26819/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe news that jobs will be lost at this company was very disappointing. The Government will, however, make every State support available to employees being impacted and the relevant Departments and Agencies will work collectively to help workers transition and find new employment opportunities. This will include the provision of re-training, if required.
While more work remains to be done, I would like to highlight the strong progress that has been made towards reducing unemployment in the South East Region over recent years. The most recent CSO data shows that the unemployment rate in the Region has fallen from a peak of 20.1% in 2012 to 9.3% in Q1 2017. Since 2012, the South East has also had the fastest rate of jobs growth, in percentage terms, of any region in the country. I am therefore optimistic that we will continue to see new jobs being generated across the wider South East area.
