Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

These job losses will impact greatly on this small community. Eighty jobs is a large number to be taken out of it. This factory opened in 1984. At that time there was a larger facility, Gowna, which has closed in the town, having at one time employed up to 700 people. This factory has been there for a long time, it has sustained the community through very difficult times and it is very disappointing to see it close. My colleague, councillor Thomas Healy, has been in touch with other Deputies asking that the four constituency Deputies work together along with representatives of the local community and that we would meet IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the Minister to come up with a plan for the area because that is what we need. We need to ensure there is a plan in place to deliver for the community to ensure the people there can have a sustainable future. Sligo has great potential as an employment district and area but we need investment. Part of that investment is about the health service that has been taken away from the community, which is a major problem for the area.

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