Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney. I thank Deputies O'Rourke and Guirke for raising this matter. I listened very carefully to what they said. I confirm that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Social Protection have not received a collective redundancy notification in relation to the employer mentioned, Rehab Enterprises. It is therefore not possible for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to comment on the specific matter because no notification of collective redundancy has been received. However, I accept that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is aware of the potential redundancies. It is a huge shock for the employees affected. As the Deputy said, a letter was issued recently stating the people's jobs were potentially at risk, which is clearly an early-warning signal. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and my colleague, the Minster for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, will be glad to liaise directly on this matter as quickly as possible now that the Deputies have highlighted the issue. Both the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Social Protection will support the company and employees in any way they can. I have been informed that a dedicated team from the Department of Social Protection will be made available to work with the employees to ensure access to income support and to support them to secure alternative employment.

I recognise the particular nature of the people who work in Rehab Enterprises. There is a facility in Portlaoise, which I visited, so I am very conscious of the similar situation and that it is not as easy for the category of people in those areas to obtain employment. There will have to be further discussions, I think, with the employer directly, Rehab Enterprises, because of the particular nature of the work carried out. From my knowledge, employment has been quite strong in the County Meath area and across the country and Enterprise Ireland has been working closely with the county.

There is scope for Enterprise Ireland to look at this with an organisation like Rehab in terms of social enterprise. I think there is feasibility there. The Rehab Group is an independent, voluntary organisation. It is not a State organisation, though many people might think it is. It is heavily reliant on the State for funding for the work it does. It has been employing people with disabilities for more than 70 years. It is an internationally recognised company and charity that has enabled more than 10,000 people with disabilities to live a life of their own choosing over that period. Rehab is a strong, well-established organisation with a skill set in this area.

While the Department has not received official notification of collective redundancy to date, we will liaise directly with the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman. I thank the Deputies for raising the matter.

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