Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I very much regret the recent announcement by APW Enclosures that it will cease production at its plant in Tallaght, County Dublin, by June 2005. FÁS has been in contact with the company and has offered its full range of services to those who will lose their jobs. In addition to services provided from its Tallaght office, the agency also offered to make its staff available on site, to give vocational guidance and help.

The industrial development agencies are continuing to market the Tallaght area for new jobs and investment. IDA Ireland's strategy for the Dublin area is to attract and expand major foreign direct investment projects, moving up the value chain. Tallaght continues to be actively marketed by IDA Ireland to potential investors and is well equipped to compete with other areas for potential foreign direct investment, with Tallaght Institute of Technology and superb infrastructural facilities at Citywest and Grangecastle.

Wyeth Biopharma has approximately 700 people employed in Clondalkin and this figure is expected to rise to 1,300 by the end of the year. The Japanese pharmaceuticals company, Takeda Chemical Industries, which will employ 60 people, has also begun construction in Clondalkin. At Citywest, project developments by SAP support services, AOL Technologies Ireland Limited and Colgate-Palmolive support services are providing 750 locally accessible job opportunities.

Following an agreement last year, Enterprise Ireland is supporting the development of business incubation space at the institute of technology. This facility is expected to generate quality start-up enterprises. The development agencies continue to work with existing companies to assist them to move up the value chain and increase employment potential. Companies which have availed of this process, with financial assistance from IDA Ireland, include Sage and Xilinx in Citywest.

Job losses and job gains have always been, and will continue to be, part of the economic landscape. However, our overall unemployment rate is among the lowest in Europe. In that context, it should be noted that the latest CSO live register analysis shows that those claiming unemployment benefits in Tallaght fell from 3,631 in January 2004 to 3,214 in January 2005, a drop of 11.5%.

I am satisfied the strong infrastructural support already in place, including the opening of Luas, will continue to attract jobs to Tallaght and the surrounding area.

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