Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

151. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of 8 September 2019, the outcome of discussions held by the Western Region Enterprise Committee on the job losses at a company (details supplied) and the specific measures now being taken to support job creation in Ballinasloe, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23878/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can confirm that a meeting of the West Regional Enterprise Plan Steering Committee took place on the 8th September as scheduled. The meeting was chaired by Mr Peter Duggan, Acting CEO, Mayo Co. Council. The meeting was attended by a range of regional stakeholders including those representing enterprise and sectoral development agencies, the LEOs, the local authorities, the third level and further education sector, N&W Regional Assembly and Western Development Commission.

The main focus of the meeting was to gather considered views from those present on the enterprise impacts of COVID-19 and to review the continued relevance of current objectives and actions in the West Regional Enterprise Plan given new economic challenges for the region and nationally. This Plan covers the counties of Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.

The meeting heard a report back on the reviews from the working groups driving each of the Objectives in the current Regional Enterprise Plan since the previous meeting in July. The areas identified as of key importance over the coming months are as follows:

- Increasing Life Science capability in the West region;

- Attracting a wider tourism audience including the development of a ‘hybrid’ model for business tourism;

- Pivoting of the creative assets in the West to identify potential areas of growth;

- Establishing the region as an Ag Tech hub identifying niche opportunities;

- Addressing the Skills needs for the region with adaptable approaches in supporting Apprenticeships, adult learning and the Tertiary sector; and

- Extending the utilisation of Enterprise Centres and Hubs in the region to support remote working

It was agreed that the individual reports from each working group/theme would be drawn together in a unified document and submitted to my Department for input to considerations in the preparation of the forthcoming National Economic Plan.

As part of the meeting, the IDA representative provided an update on the job losses at Aptar, Ballinasloe and outlined IDA engagement with the company and all the relevant Agencies. He also confirmed that the Job Loss Protocol that is in place with DEASP has been activated.

During the subsequent discussion Galway LEO confirmed that the LEO is available to support any Aptar worker who might wish to start their own business. Galway ETB also detailed that they are available to provide many different types of training assistance to the individual staff members from Aptar.

As regards specific measures being undertaken by IDA to support Aptar and jobs in Ballinasloe these have included, since June 24th:

- Ongoing engagements with the local management of Aptar Ballinasloe;

- Ongoing engagements and support from IDA to employee representatives;

- Engagement with Enterprise Ireland regarding potential for local sourcing of suppliers or to seek interest in the Ballinasloe plant from Enterprise Ireland companies, in collaboration with the Enterprise Ireland Global Sourcing team;

- IDA West Regional team has connected the local Intreo and ETB with employees of Aptar;

- Following the decision by Aptar Global to close the Ballinasloe plant, a number of introductions to interested parties have been made to Aptar by IDA.

There are also a number of ongoing and planned Actions:

- IDA and Enterprise Ireland plan to use the Aptar Employee skills audit and plant layout as marketing collateral to attract new investment to Ballinasloe and to assess potential interest from existing FDI clients, particularly in Pharma, MedTech and Engineering sectors;

- IDA’s overseas office has ongoing engagement at corporate level with Aptar Global.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

152. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment when he plans to convene a meeting of the enterprise agencies, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, members of the regional enterprise plan committee, Ballinasloe Area Community Development, Galway and Roscommon local authorities and other local stakeholders following the announcement of job losses at a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23879/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The decision by Aptar that it will close its facility in Ballinasloe is deeply disappointing. My primary concern, as always in these situations, is for the workers and families who have been impacted by this decision. Many of these workers have been with the company for many years. The Government will make every State support available to those affected in order to help them transition and find new employment opportunities.

The IDA have worked hard to sustain and support the firm’s presence here and have had close and regular contact with management, both at a local and corporate level. The IDA also provided support to employee representatives as they put together a plan for efficiency savings that could be made in the Ballinasloe plant.

Now that the decision has been taken to close the facility, The IDA is working closely with the company to market the plant to potential investors. This process is still ongoing. Both the IDA and Enterprise Ireland will use the employee skills audit in their efforts to attract new investment to Ballinasloe. The IDA Regional team has also connected the local Intreo office and the Education and Training Board with employees of Aptar.

The West Regional Enterprise Plan Steering Committee met on 31 July and 8 September and considered the range of economic challenges and the impact of jobs losses in the region, including at Aptar. The committee was updated by the IDA and other regional agency representatives, and finalised options for additional measures that can be taken in to mitigate the COVID-19 and wider economic challenges in the region.

My Department and its Agencies have also been working hard, over a sustained period, to support job creation in the regions. This has included setting ambitious targets to ensure that employment and investment are distributed as evenly as possible across the country. Last year, there were over 21,000 people employed in IDA-supported firms in Galway. This is almost double the number employed in 2010 (11,235). While the period ahead may prove more challenging, an important objective will remain securing new foreign direct investment for the County.

Wider enterprise efforts are also underway to generate new growth in Galway and the surrounding area. For example, regional stakeholders – including Enterprise Ireland, the LEOs and the Higher and Further Education Institutes – are working together on implementation of the Regional Enterprise Plan for the West. This is aimed at strengthening the environment for job creation in the region and Ballinasloe will also benefit from this.

Another important initiative in this context is the Regional Enterprise Development Fund, through which over €16.7m in funding for the West – over three competitive calls – has been approved for collaborative regional enterprise projects. The region has had particular recent success, with five Galway-based projects being awarded a total of €9.6m. These projects are currently being developed and their completion will enhance the attractiveness of the area for further investment and job creation. 

While the announcement of job losses at Aptar is deeply disappointing, I want to assure you that the Government and its agencies are working to create employment opportunities in the West and across all of our regions.