Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity of raising this important issue. I welcome that the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, is here to hear my concerns.

EJ Cavanaghs in Birr was a well known employer for many decades. It was a family owned iron foundry business which manufactured manhole covers and drainage grates for the construction industry. In 2000, it was taken over by an American company called EJ and is now known as EJ Ireland Access Solutions Limited. It is also a family owned business and has taken an inclusive approach in ensuring that the company grew and developed. Sadly, when it began to lose money owing to the decline in the construction industry it took the difficult decision to enter into consultation with 32 of its workers with a view to downsizing the operation. The 32 people concerned are young skilled workers, many of whom have young families. Having met on Monday last with management I know how difficult this decision was for them and the owners. I sympathise with the road they have to go down over the next couple of weeks.

I accept this decision cannot be reversed. We are all aware of the decline in the construction industry over the past number years and the knock-on effect this has had on other areas. I am anxious to ensure that every effort is made by the Government and its agencies to assist the company and, should the result of the consultation process be redundancy, the redundant workers. It now appears this may well be the case. These people should be provided with the advice and training required to help them re-enter the workforce. The people concerned are hard workers who know the benefits of work to them, their families, their communities and the local economy. Thirty-two jobs may not be a lot to people living in built up urban areas. However, 32 jobs in a small community is equivalent to 300 jobs in a larger area. The knock-on effect of these job losses will be significant.

The midlands region has many small and medium enterprises skilled in manufacturing and engineering. While I welcome the positive benefits of the efforts of Government in terms of job creation during the past couple of years, the jobs secured have in the main been in built-up and satellite areas in the larger cities like Limerick, Cork and Dublin. There is a need for a regional enterprise strategy to provide the regional counties with the opportunities they deserve. The unemployment rate in Offaly is higher than average and it has the second lowest disposable income in the country. We have moved to decision-making based on evidence. There is evidence to suggest that action is urgently required in Offaly. Offaly is also home to the highest percentage of workers in the industrial sector. Again, this points to the fact that urgent action will be needed.

I am anxious to hear what IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are doing for Offaly. Tullamore is a gateway town and Birr, which is not too far from Tullamore, has good connectivity and accessibility to all of the major motorways. It is also located in the centre of the country. I would welcome concentrated and urgent attention being given to the preparation of a regional enterprise plan so that Offaly and other regional counties experiencing decline will get their fair crack of the whip and the jobs they so badly need as a result of the downturn.

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